New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced that $100,000 in state funding he secured made possible the purchase and installation of dental chairs and lighting at the Ossining branch of the Open Door Care Network, helping to modernize the not-for-profit’s dental care capacity.
“This investment ensures that Open Door can continue expanding critical dental services for families, seniors, and individuals who need care they can’t always afford,” Harckham said. “Modern equipment means greater capacity and more quality care right here in our community, especially for the uninsured and underinsured. This targeted funding will help the center meet growing demand, improve services, and eliminate barriers to essential health care.”
“We are grateful to Senator Harckham for securing this CREST funding to modernize our dental facility,” said Lindsay Farrell, Open Door president and CEO. “The new equipment enhances our capacity at our main site and supports our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, affordable oral health care to the community.”
Through the state’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) grant program, Harckham secured $100,000 in funding to support a Dental Care Resiliency & Expansion project at the center and which were used to purchase 12 new dental exam chairs and 12 ceiling-mounted lights to replace aging infrastructure and expand service capacity.
Harckham has delivered more than $35 million in state grant funding for municipalities, first responders, and nonprofit organizations since taking office in 2019.
Located at 165 Main Street, Open Door’s main facility in Ossining has been providing accessible primary care, including dental services, for more than 50 years. The center serves thousands of patients annually, offering affordable dental exams, cleanings, restorative services, dentures, and emergency care on a sliding fee scale regardless of ability to pay.
The new dental chairs and lighting are expected to significantly enhance the facility’s capacity to serve patients with up-to-date clinical space and equipment. The investment strengthens Open Door’s mission of eliminating disparities in oral health and ensuring care of the highest quality for families.
Open Door services, including comprehensive primary care, dental care, behavioral health, and specialty services, serve tens of thousands of patients each year.
Open Door Care Network is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and wellness services with a stated mission to offer high-quality, affordable health care to all residents regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
CREST grants provide targeted state funding that helps prevent rising costs from being passed on to everyday residents by covering essential capital expenses that local governments and nonprofit service providers would otherwise have to pay for through higher fees or local taxes.
By funding practical needs such as equipment replacement, facility upgrades, and service expansion, CREST grants allow communities to maintain and improve critical services without increasing out-of-pocket costs for local residents.
