Strengthening Community Health Centers with the California Health Impact Fund

A partnership between the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) and the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) is strengthening California’s community health centers (CHCs) by providing access to stable, below-market loans. The California Health Impact Fund (CHIF) is designed to support health center expansion, facility improvements, and infrastructure investments that improve access to high-quality, affordable care across California.

CPCA is excited to collaborate on CHIF with PCDC, a national nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to expanding primary care access and advance health equity in communities that need it most. PCDC provides affordable capital, expertise, and advocacy to strengthen primary care systems across the United States. By pairing CPCA’s deep local relationships with PCDC’s expertise as a national CDFI, this partnership will increase access to flexible, mission-driven capital and strengthen the state’s safety-net health system.

Francisco Silva, CPCA’s President and CEO, says, “California’s CHCs are on the front lines of ensuring every person—no matter their income, insurance status, or background—can access quality care close to home. Partnering with PCDC allows CHCs to secure the financing they need to expand facilities, upgrade technology, and reach more patients. This collaboration is an investment in the health and resilience of our communities.”

"What we hear consistently from providers is that they’re balancing immediate needs with long-term transformation. This is about giving them the flexibility to do both—stabilize today while building more sustainable, innovative models for the future,” says Aparna Mekala, MPH, PCDC’s CEO. “It’s the kind of collaboration that moves the health center movement forward, and partnering with CPCA brings that to life in a meaningful way. We must continue to support our health centers as they are the cornerstone of primary care in communities."

Learn more about the California Health Impact Fund here. If you are interested in applying for the fund, fill out this interest form.