Keuka College officials welcomed local, state, and federal lawmakers to campus on Monday, Aug. 17, to symbolically christen the College’s nearly completed Rural Community Outpatient Health Clinic.
“Today marks an exciting milestone for Keuka College and our broader community as we offer a special preview of the future home of Keuka College’s Rural Community Outpatient Health Clinic,” said College President Amy Storey.
The 5,885-square-foot facility, which is expected to open later this year, will expand access to health services for the community while providing valuable experiential learning opportunities for Keuka College students in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, and related healthcare services programs.
The project received a significant boost after U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced in 2024 that he helped secure $1.6 million in federal support. He was on hand Monday to take part in an honorary ribbon cutting.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer was instrumental in securing $1.6 million in federal support toward the clinic.
When Keuka College leaders came to me asking for help to build a new Rural Community Outpatient Clinic, I promised to fight until you got all the funding that you needed,” said Sen. Schumer. “So today, I’m proud to say, a promise made is a promise kept, to the tune of $1.6 million.”
The senator cited recent challenges faced by the U.S. healthcare system, including cuts in federal support, as reasons why the Rural Community Outpatient Health Clinic “is needed now more than ever, ever before.”
“Today, we don’t just cut a ribbon. We open a door for 1,000 rural residents in the surrounding community who can now access needed health care services and the hundreds of Keuka College students who can get the clinical training opportunities they need to become healthcare professionals. I will always fight to ensure New York’s rural communities have the resources they need to access affordable health care services.”
President Storey said the clinic will capitalize on Keuka College’s extensive history in both healthcare – the College’s Nursing program was launched during World War II at the urging of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt – and experiential learning.
Allison Barkowski, Operations and Outreach Director for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, presents President Storey with a proclamation from the congresswoman.
“Long before internships became an expectation for college students, Keuka College students were leaving the classroom through our Field Period® program to gain hands-on experience and put what they were learning in the classroom into practice,” she said. “That’s part of what makes this project so exciting to us. When complete, this facility will eventually provide healthcare services to members of the community while creating clinical sites for all of our aspiring healthcare professionals, which is a difficult issue for New York State at this time.”
Also speaking at the ceremony were:
- Allison Barkowski, Operations and Outreach Director for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, who said the congresswoman was proud to help secure $1.6 million in federal funding.
“She recognized that this project would help expand access to healthcare while preparing healthcare professionals to serve the neighbors in the communities they call home,” she said.
- State Sen. Jake Ashby, a 2002 Keuka College alumnus, who complimented the College on its success and stability.
“It’s amazing to see Keuka College just continuing to lead the way, and in stark contrast to so many other educational institutions out there right now who are dwindling, struggling, and unfortunately close,” said Sen. Ashby. “That’s not happening here. It’s because of the leadership that we have here. And it’s also because of cooperation. … When there is cooperation, when there is leadership, things like this happen.”
- State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, who offered congratulations from himself and on behalf of State Sen. Tom O’Mara.
“We know providing rural residents in rural areas healthcare is a challenge,” he said, “so this is going to be a tremendous help.”
- Leslie Church, Yates County Legislature Chair and Town of Milo Supervisor, who pledged support from the county level.
“We would like to congratulate you, and any way that the Yates County Legislature can support you in this endeavor, please call,” she said.
- Kelly Maher, principal with HOLT Architects of Ithaca and designer of the facility.
“It’s always exciting and unique when we get to do this kind of collaboration of education and healthcare in one space,” she said.
