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Construction Officially Begins On Southland HealthFirst Clinic

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Following years of financial wrangling and false starts, community health leaders officially broke ground on the Southland HealthFirst clinic Monday.

Reminders of the clinic’s turbulent history were not hard to miss in the remarks of Mayor Jim Gray and the organizers now in charge of the new HealthFirst location. The project survived the forced resignation of former executive director William North, a scathing state audit, and accounting issues that nearly derailed a $11.7M dollar federal grant.

Mayor Gray said the clinic, which will serve primarily low-income patients, is on track to open in October 2015.

"All patients, regardless of income or ability to pay, will have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. And that includes access to cancer screenings, dental care, and a pharmacy," he said.

HealthFirst’s new executive director, Dr. Steve Davis, says meetings with neighborhood residents have been productive and he’s confident the project financing and design now rest on a solid footing.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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