Wood County to build Federally Qualified Health Center

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – Wisconsin has long faced a shortage of oral health care professionals in rural areas. Wood County is among those facing a lack of care. Chair of the Wood County Board of Supervisors Lance Pliml says the county, along with community partners, are working to address the shortage of dental and other care in the area.

“This area has basically been considered a dental desert,” says Pliml. “We just know that when that care occurs, it eliminates a lot of other problems, not only in youth, but adults with heart problems [and] other cardiac issues. So it’s a big issue.”

Wood County wants ARPA funds to serve future generations

The county plans to address these issues by investing American Rescue Plan Act Funds into a Federally Qualified Health Center. This is a type of community health center that uses federal funds in underserved areas. This project will cost roughly $20-million dollars. 

“The Federally Qualified Health Center, in partnership with these other people, is going to be about a 24,000 square foot facility,” says Pliml. “It’ll employ roughly 50+ high-paying professionals, and it’s going to handle everything from primary care, to substance abuse, to behavioral issues. But maybe the most impacted community will be in dental care.”

Where it will be built and how it will be funded

The location is still undecided but it may be built near the YMCA/Boys and Girls Club. This is a central location in the City of Wisconsin Rapids near a multi-lane highway.

Pliml says Senator Derrick Van Orden and Senator Tammy Baldwin have been instrumental in helping this project move forward.

“Let’s face it, in Madison and Washington [D.C], we don’t have that cooperation always but we’ve had tremendous cooperation [with] both sides of the aisle here,” says Pliml. “Those two working in tandem to bring this to the area because it was ascertained to be one of the greatest needs.”

Funds have been pledged by community partners including the Legacy Foundation. The county has allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds. Pliml says they’re waiting for the federal funds to arrive before breaking ground. They plan to begin the project before the end of 2026.