Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - the rhode island public health foundation does business as the rhode island public health institute (RIPHI)

RIPHI's mission is to eliminate health disparities in rhode island and beyond. RIPHI develops innovative public health programs, conducts translational research, and trains students and public health practitioners. In march 2020, RIPHI opened open door health, rhode island's only lgbtq clinic. Located on the west side of providence, open door health provides primary, sexual and reproductive health services to rhode island's diverse community. RIPHI oversees many other public health programs, including one of the largest mobile produce markets in the country called food on the move. RIPHI also partners with over 200 faith-based organizations across the united states to fight HIV stigma through faith in action. The number of patients and clients RIPHI serves have grown exponentially over the last two years, as have our budget and number of employees. There is insufficient clinical and office space to accommodate our growing staff and suite of public health and clinical services. This appropriation will allow RIPHI to develop administrative headquarters as well as expanded medical office space in response to growing client volume and demand for services. This expansion will better integrate administrative and clinical operations and enhance programmatic coordination across RIPHI initiatives. Additional space will allow RIPHI to more than quadruple the number of people the organization serves each year.