WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Friday announced the release of $6.6 million to expand services offered at 29 community health centers in West Virginia. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and comes as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured.

“More Americans are losing their health insurance and turning to health centers for care,” said Health Resources and Services Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “These grants will aid centers in their efforts to provide care to an increasing number of patients during the economic downturn.”

Services at the community health centers may be expanded through such actions as adding new providers, extending hours of operation, or widening the variety of services that are offered, as well as through other methods.

Grantees submitted plans explaining how the funding would be used. The health centers that will receive funding, and the cities in which they are located, are as follows:

-- Belington Community Medical Services Association, Inc. (Belington) -- $100,000

-- Clay Battelle Health Services Association (Blacksville) -- $141,936

-- Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers, Inc. (Fairmont) -- $206,735

-- Preston-Taylor Community Health Centers (Grafton) -- $220,670

-- Ritchie County Primary Care Association, Inc. (Harrisville) -- $176,270

-- St. George Medical Clinic, Inc. (St. George) -- $123,632

-- Change, Inc. (Weirton) -- $136,888

-- E.A. Hawse Health Center, Inc. (Baker) -- $177,637

-- Primary Care Systems, Inc. (Clay) -- $171,019

-- Cabin Creek Health Center, Inc. (Dawes) -- $238,777

-- Wirt County Health Services Association, Inc. (Elizabeth) -- $197,437

-- Pendleton Community Care (Franklin) -- $148,928

-- Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center, Inc. (Grantsville) -- $199,900

-- Shenandoah Valley Medical Systems, Inc. (Martinsburg) -- $368,060

-- Valley Health Care, Inc. (Mill Creek) -- $190,890

-- Tri-County Health Clinic, Inc. (Rock Cave) -- $241,486

-- Womencare, Inc. (Scott Depot) -- $382,786

-- Community Health Systems, Inc. (Beckley) -- $426,100

-- Camden-On-Gauley Medical Center, Inc. (Camden-On-Gauley) -- $160,095

-- Tug River Health Association, Inc. (Gary) -- $189,866

-- Lincoln County Primary Care Center (Hamlin) -- $189,758

-- Valley Health Systems, Inc. (Huntington) -- $860,967

-- Community Health Foundation of Man (Man) -- $177,214

-- Bluestone Health Association, Inc. (Princeton) -- $224,666

-- Rainelle Medical Center, Inc. (Rainelle) -- $160,357

-- New River Health Association, Inc. (Scarbro) -- $339,269

-- Roane Co. Family Health Care, Inc. (Spencer) -- $170,141

-- Monroe County Health Center (Union) -- $209,829

-- Northern Greenbrier Health Clinic, Inc. (Williamsburg) -- $140,822