$10 million USDA grant supports expansion of Leland Medical Clinic

• Delta Health Alliance says the expansion will improve access to healthcare in the rural Delta area and strengthen the local workforce.

Leland Medical Clinic has expanded, with a new state-of-art facility set for its grand opening on Thursday.

Supported by a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the expansion will bring occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and dentistry services to the Leland community.

Delta Health Alliance, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates Leland Medical Clinic, says the expansion will improve access to healthcare in the rural Delta area and strengthen the local workforce.

“The opening of the Leland Medical Clinic’s rehabilitation and dental services marks an important milestone for Delta Health Alliance and for the families we serve,” Dr. Karen Matthews, CEO of Delta Health Alliance said. “These services expand access to critical dental and therapy services for Delta residents who have too often had to travel long distances to receive this care.”

The clinic is the medical home for individuals and families throughout Bolivar, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington Counties and beyond. The clinic provides clinical and behavioral health services for more than 2,400 patients.

Nearly 75% of the counties in the 18-county Mississippi Delta have a medium to high need for dental professionals, according to Delta Health Alliance. Many families have been traveling to Jackson or Memphis to receive the care the expanded Leland Medical Clinic will now offer.

Since opening in 2013, Leland Medical Clinic has expanded its services to include digital X-rays and mammograms, as well as a mobile health clinic and the Delta Wellness Center, which offers fitness programming and nutrition education.

The clinic is recognized a Federally Qualified Health Center.

Dane Maxwell, Mississippi Director for Rural Development at USDA, said he is proud that USDA Rural Development has played such a strong role in supporting the expansion.

“Projects like this are at the core of Rural Development’s mission,” Maxwell said. “The expanded services are the exact type of economic and business development projects that we aim to support in rural communities.”