HealthReach Nominated as Maine’s Community Star for National Rural Health Day

Waterville — HealthReach Community Health Centers is proud to have been nominated as Maine’s Community Star for National Rural Health Day. This national observance shines a spotlight on the dedication of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health, and partners working to address the unique healthcare needs of rural communities across America.

Each year, in celebration of National Rural Health Day (NRHD), the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) invites all 50 State Offices of Rural Health and other rural health stakeholders to recognize individuals and organizations making a significant impact in rural health through the Community Star Recognition Program. Since 2015, this program has honored nearly 500 Community Stars across all 50 states, highlighting those dedicated to making a difference.

Since 1975, HealthReach has provided affordable, high-quality healthcare to underserved communities in Central and Western Maine. With a vision of positive, improving health outcomes for rural Mainers, HealthReach offers integrated healthcare services at 13 sites. In 2025, HealthReach sites served a combined 26,740 patients.

The celebration for Maine’s Community Star award will happen at the New England Rural Health Association Conference in November with awardees from other New England states. Randi Bento, HealthReach Director of Operations, looks forward to representing HealthReach at this event.

HealthReach Community Health Centers — founded in 1975 and headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 community health centers and 2 school-based health centers with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% financed with non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.