By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council agreed to spend some of the money it’s received from the American Rescue Plan to help fund a mobile health unit serving McLean County residents who otherwise wouldn’t have direct assess to medical care.

The council voted unanimously Monday night to contribute $150,000 from the federal government to build what’s described as an RV that is being built by Carle Health.

The initial cost is $750,000, according to Jeff Tinervin of the Tinervin Family Foundation, which is donating $100,000. Tinervin said Laborers International Union of North America and United Way of McLean County are also contributing $100,000 each.

Bloomington’s west side is among the underserved areas, according to city leaders.

“It’s kind of these areas of deserts, if you will, for services like medical care, to be able to bring that out to the communities in a meaningful way, that we can start addressing some of these health disparities that you see,” United Way President and CEO David Taylor told the council.

The mobile health clinic is is a 40-foot, wheelchair-vehicle, which is already under construction, according to Taylor

Carle operates a mobile health unit serving Champaign County, but it comes to McLean County once a month, said Taylor.

Council members were all on board with the project.

“I’m very thrilled with this,” said Council member Donna Boelen.

“There’s nothing more important than preventative care, and I think that this mobile unit will provide that,” said Boelen.

“We welcome this new project over to the west side,” said Councilwoman De Urban.

“We sure need it,” she said.

Council member Grant Walch said this a great use of the federal money, which was given to local governments grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tinervin said Carle is making the largest commitment, staffing doctors, nurse practitioners, and social workers for the mobile unit.

The vehicle is scheduled to be delivered to McLean County sometime around the end of the year.