Pender Community Health Awarded $711,820 RHTP Grant to Support Outpatient Clinic Expansion
Pender, Neb. (October 19, 2026) – Pender Community Health (PCH) has been awarded $711,820 through Nebraska’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to support the first phase of a facility renovation project that will create additional space for outpatient specialty and behavioral health services.
The funding, awarded through RHTP Initiative 2.5, will cover the full cost of the project’s first phase, which involves relocating administrative offices to renovated space on the lower level of the facility. This relocation will free up valuable space near the hospital’s main entrance, allowing PCH to expand clinical areas and better meet the growing demand for outpatient services.
As healthcare continues to shift toward outpatient and specialty services, PCH’s existing Outpatient Specialty Clinic has reached capacity, with limited exam room availability to accommodate additional providers or expand services. The expansion will also create additional space for behavioral health services, helping improve access to this important care for patients in our community.
“This investment is an important step forward in our ability to meet the changing healthcare needs of our communities,” said Laura Gamble, CEO of Pender Community Health. “We know patients want to receive care close to home, and we’re committed to finding ways to make that possible. By making better use of the space we already have, we can create opportunities to bring more specialty services to Pender, expand access to behavioral health care and continue strengthening the future of rural healthcare.”
The project will be completed in two phases. Construction is already underway on Phase 1, which will transform existing lower-level storage space into administrative offices. The grant-funded renovation is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
Following the completion of Phase 1, PCH plans to begin Phase 2, which will convert the vacated administrative offices into additional patient care space. The expansion is expected to accommodate two additional specialty providers per day while also creating more availability for behavioral health services. PCH hopes to complete the second phase by the end of 2028.
The additional space will create opportunities to increase appointment availability and expand specialty services. For patients throughout Northeast Nebraska, these improvements will mean greater opportunities to receive care locally, reducing the need to travel to larger communities for appointments and procedures.
Beyond improving patient access, the project is also an important investment in PCH’s long-term financial sustainability. Expanding outpatient services will allow the organization to respond to changing healthcare needs, strengthen existing service lines and create new opportunities for growth.
The Nebraska Rural Health Transformation Program’s Initiative 2.5 supports Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals with infrastructure, technology and equipment improvements designed to expand services and strengthen financial stability.
“Being able to grow and adapt is essential to keeping rural healthcare strong,” Gamble added. “This project reflects our vision to lead rural healthcare through innovation and excellence, while remaining focused on what matters most: providing compassionate, high-quality care for the people and communities who depend on us.”
About Pender Community Health
Pender Community Health delivers high-quality, compassionate care to communities in northeast Nebraska. With advanced medical technology, experienced providers, and well-coordinated services, PCH ensures patients receive exceptional care close to home. In addition to the hospital, PCH operates medical clinics, retail pharmacies, the PCH Little Sprouts Child Development Center, and PCH Prairie Breeze Assisted Living—serving patients and families at every stage of life.
