Bay Mills secures $6 million for new healthcare facility

BAY MILLS – The Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC) has been approved for $6 million to construct the new Bay Mills Health Center facility. 

BMIC Tribal Chairman Bryan Newland recently found out that the tribe’s U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development Loan application was approved, allowing them to move forward with plans for the health centre, which is to be located in the heart of the reservation near the Tribal Justice Center. 

The Bay Mills Health Center provides medical, dental, and mental health services to both tribal and non-tribal individuals throughout the county. The aim of the new facility is to expand upon integrated health care services, including preventative care, traditional medicine, medical, dental, and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and pharmacy services. Plans for the 34,660-square-foot building include the potential of adding new services such as optometry and chiropractic.

“The ongoing coronavirus pandemic reinforces the urgency of addressing health needs in our community. The new Bay Mills Health Center will be a cornerstone of our tribe's development for the next generation,” Newland said in a news release issued by BMIC.

The next step in the process is bidding the project out. A timeline for groundbreaking and completion of the new facility will be determined once a contractor is chosen. 

“This facility will allow us to improve the wellness of our community, and create new career opportunities for our tribal citizens here at home. It will also allow us to collaborate with public universities and other agencies to learn how to improve the delivery of wellness services in Indian Country,” said Newland.

BMHC is one of only a few dental providers that currently accept Medicaid in Chippewa County.