The Ak-Chin Indian Community has been chosen to participate in the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) Fiscal Year 2025 Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP), which will support the development of a new health center for the community. The JVCP, created under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in 1991, is a partnership where tribes fund the construction of healthcare facilities that meet IHS standards. In exchange, IHS commits federal funding from Congress to staff and operate these facilities through a no-cost, 20-year lease.
After a competitive selection process, the Ak-Chin Indian Community was one of only seven tribes nationwide selected for this year’s program and is the sole recipient in Arizona. The planned facility will offer services such as primary care, dental care, behavioral health, and specialty care. Construction is expected to start in about one year and finish within three years.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), who has represented Arizona’s 2nd District in Congress since 2023 and lives in Oro Valley, expressed his support for the initiative. “I want to thank the Indian Health Service for its support of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. This is a historic investment in rural healthcare,” said Rep. Crane. “The new facility will provide critical support, expand access to quality care, and help close longstanding gaps in Arizona’s Second District.”
Chairman Gabriel Lopez of the Ak-Chin Indian Community also acknowledged federal backing and Crane’s advocacy: “We are deeply grateful to IHS for this powerful partnership, which will improve Ak-Chin healthcare outcomes for generations to come by enabling our Community Members – including our Elders and those who are ailing – to have access to a comprehensive and robust healthcare system without having to travel long distances. This new healthcare facility will further our independence and make a real difference in the quality of life for our Community and the surrounding IHS-eligible patient population. This healthcare facility would not be possible without our Arizona delegation members, including Congressman Crane. We thank Congressman Crane for his support, which was essential in the success of our application and reflects his steadfast advocacy for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and each of the Tribes within his district.”
Crane succeeded Tom O’Halleran as representative of Arizona’s 2nd district beginning in 2023.
