The Missouri Foundation for Health has announced a $3.5 million challenge grant to the St. Louis Regional Health Commission to preserve the healthcare safety net for residents of greater St. Louis.

The grant is half of what the commission needs to fund its St. Louis Clinic Affiliation project, an initiative to increase the number of direct-service providers and streamline and improve healthcare delivery in the region, as well as to bring certain clinics into compliance with federal regulations in order to protect about $25 million in federal funding. In addition to the challenge grant, the foundation is guaranteeing a $3 million line of credit for working capital during the transition to the three healthcare centers involved in the project: St. Louis ConnectCare, Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, and Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers.

"This affiliation speaks to the foundation's fundamental mission to increase access to high quality, cost-effective care for the uninsured and underserved," said foundation president and CEO James R. Kimmey. "The foundation is proud to offer this challenge grant to the St. Louis community, and we are eager to partner with other foundations, providers, and businesses in our community, whom we expect will be equally generous in helping the commission meet its goal."