It is generally accepted that small, locally-owned businesses serve as economic engines on which communities can succeed and thrive. This Small Business Saturday, November 30, I hope you will join me in urging lawmakers to invest in one of our own community’s economic engines – NorthLakes Community Clinic. As the Chief Financial Officer of NorthLakes Community Clinic, I am proud of the personalized approach we take to quality, affordable health care. We are a community institution – welcoming and providing care to all of our neighbors. We make sure our grandparents can afford their prescriptions; we provide Dad with cancer screenings; we provide Mom with the best prenatal care; and, we nurture their newborn’s development at every check-up.

At NorthLakes Community Clinic we proudly care for thousands of community members throughout northern Wisconsin. We provide our patients with not only medical care but also dental care, behavioral health, recovery, chiropractic, optometry, pediatric therapies, and community health workers to ensure patients can navigate the complicated landscape of health care.  We provide outreach in our schools, serving over 200 districts throughout northern Wisconsin in our Seal-A-Smile and School Based Behavioral Health program. Our staff consistently goes above and beyond the medical chart to ensure that families have access to essential resources, and simply provide a warm and comforting space. Additionally, we employ over 300 individuals, stimulating our local economy.

Today, community health centers across the country are facing uncertainty in our future. Congress has yet to pass long-term funding. Health centers are forced to operate on short-term funding patches. Small-businesses cannot survive without stability in funding. We can only continue to provide quality health care for people in our community if Congress acts – and acts now.

This Small Business Saturday consider supporting businesses like mine in other ways. Call or email your member of Congress and remind them how integral health centers are in our community.

This Small Business Saturday remember:  Community health centers – local business, keeping us healthy.

Sincerely,

Brian Ahlgren, CFO

NorthLakes Community Clinic