Leaders of the center revealed the plan recently. While the Spencer location will debut this year, the address and opening date have not been announced yet.

The staff of the Health Center began considering an expansion into Spencer after it was noticed that people from that area were coming to the Fort Dodge site for care, according to Renae Kruckenberg, chief executive officer of the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge.

“The northwest part of the state has been an area we have been looking at for a few years due to the lack of resources for the underserved population in that part of the state,” she said. “We have seen patients traveling from this area to our center in Fort Dodge for care.”

She said the discussions about expanding into Spencer began in 2020. In May 2024, the planning accelerated as a result of discussions with Dr. David Keith of Clay County Public Health and state Rep. Megan Jones, R -Sioux Rapids.

The Spencer location will offer medical, dental and behavioral health care.

It will be called Community Health Center of Spencer.

Purchasing a building, renovating it and hiring staff will be the next steps.

“We plan to start the hiring process soon,” said Colleen Miller, chief operating officer of the Health Center. ” We want to get an office manager in place who can help oversee the renovations and assist in hiring staff. We’d also like to have time for staff to train at our Fort Dodge location to better understand CHC, their role and about working at a Federally Qualified Health Center.”

The clinic is expected to open with about 15 staff members and grow from there.

“We anticipate expanding our team and increasing staffing over the next few years to meet the growing needs of the community, ensuring that we can provide comprehensive care across all service areas as demand rises.” Miller said.

The plan was welcomed by community leaders in Spencer.

“The expansion of the Community Health Center to Spencer is a significant milestone for the entire northwest Iowa region, benefitting both residents and employers,” Sheriffa Jones, executive director of the Spencer Chamber, said in a written statement.

“As we know, healthier individuals lead to happier, more productive employees, fostering overall wellness within our community,” she added. “This project is a prime example of collaboration among multiple stakeholders working toward a common goal for the greater good.”

Curt Strouth, president and chief executive officer of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corp., said the project will have a big economic impact. He estimated that the project will create up to 50 new jobs and a capital investment of about $6.5 million.

About Community Health Center of Fort Dodge

The Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center which receives federal funding to provide comprehensive services.

It accepts most private insurance plus Medicare and Medicaid. It also offers a sliding fee scale based on a patient’s ability to pay.

The center at 126 N. 10th St. in Fort Dodge opened in 2006. It was expanded in 2016 and 2020.

It expanded to Dayton in 2014, Mason City in 2018, Eagle Grove in 2023 and Clarion in 2024.