SCHUMER DELIVERS $1.6 FEDERAL INVESTMENT, CUTS RIBBON ON NEW KEUKA COLLEGE RURAL COMMUNITY OUTPATIENT CLINIC

Schumer Secured Federal Investment To Expand Access To Affordable Healthcare In Yates County, Nursing Care, Occupational Therapy, Social Work Counseling, Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, And Wellness Coaching To Rural Communities

New Clinic Will Serve ~1,000 Rural Residents And Create Hands-On Health Care Training Opportunities For 100 College Students Each Year

Schumer: New Clinic Is Win-Win For Yates County Families And Keuka College Students

After launching his push to deliver federal funding three years ago, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today joined Keuka College leaders to cut the ribbon on the College's new Rural Community Outpatient Clinic. The planned clinic will address a critical need in a county with limited health care resources by providing area residents with healthcare services including nursing care, occupational therapy, social work counseling, athletic training, physical therapy, and wellness coaching. The new clinic will also strengthen career pathways and help prepare the next generation of health care professionals to serve the region by giving Keuka College students hands-on clinical training opportunities. Schumer celebrated the opening of this community facility and pledged to keep fighting for more federal resources to strengthen rural health care access across the Finger Lakes region.

"When Keuka College leaders came to me asking for help to build a new Rural Community Outpatient Clinic, I promised I wouldn't stop fighting until they got every penny they needed to build the health care facility the community deserves. I'm proud to be here today after delivering $1.6 million in federal funding for this critical project and to say a promise made is a promise kept," said Senator Schumer. "Today, we don't just cut a ribbon. We open a door for 1,000 rural residents in the surrounding community who can now access needed health care services and the hundreds of Keuka College students who can get the clinical training opportunities they need to become healthcare professionals. I will always fight to ensure New York's rural communities have the resources they need to access affordable health care services."

Keuka College President Amy Storey said, "Keuka College is grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership and for securing the federal funding that helped make this vision a reality. This clinic represents an important investment in the health and well-being of rural communities while creating valuable opportunities for Keuka College students - the next generation of healthcare professionals - to learn and serve. We are proud to partner with Senator Schumer and others throughout our region to expand access to clinical services and prepare students to meet the healthcare needs of the future."

The senator fought to deliver the necessary funding for Keuka College to create its Rural Community Outpatient Clinic. In September 2023, Schumer stood in Yates County to successfully push for $1.6 million in federal funding through the FY2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies budget bill to move the project over the finish line and get rural Yates County residents the healthcare facility they deserve. The clinic will be a one-stop shop for health care and wellness services. Schumer explained the clinic will be a win-win for the community, training much-needed new nurses and healthcare workers while serving an additional ~1,000 area residents.

The establishment of this comprehensive clinic will also support enrollment at Keuka College by providing clinical training opportunities for 100 students per year in the College's healthcare programs. According to Keuka College, approximately 85% of alumni remain in New York after graduation, making a significant contribution to the state's healthcare workforce. Schumer underscored that strengthening career pathways and helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve the region is vital. In 2025, a report that examined shortages in health professionals in 16 rural counties-including Yates-identified low rates of health care providers as well as a lack of access to basic care in many counties. Schumer emphasized that the creation of the rural outpatient clinic will provide access to a variety of affordable healthcare in an area that lacks sufficient services within a 30-mile radius.

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