JONESVILLE, La. &045; A $200,000 grant will help the patients and workers at the LaSalle Primary Care Center stay safe and dry.

The grant, which was delivered in Congress’ recent appropriations bill, will help pay for a new roof, said Mary Moffett, CEO of LaSalle General Hospital, which operates the rural health care clinic.

&uot;The roof situation is critical,&uot; Moffett said.

The primary care center is located in an old hospital building in Jonesville, in 10,000 square feet of renovated space. The clinic opened just last summer.

Physicians staff the facility five days a week, and Moffett said the clinic has been busy.

&uot;The response from the citizens has been remarkable &045; which shows how much this was needed,&uot; she said.

Other health care services available at the same site are home health, physical therapy and state mental health, Moffett said. All fall under the Catahoula Hospital Service District.

Moffett praised U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander’s office for the work to get the grant. &uot;Congressman Alexander’s office worked tirelessly,&uot; she said. &uot;(The grant is) thanks to his office and David Vitter’s office.

&uot;(Alexander) visited during the grand opening and saw the great need,&uot; Moffett said. &uot;He also helped us get a grant for radiology equipment.&uot;

Alexander said he was pleased to bring money to Louisiana.

&uot;I am proud that Louisiana projects were given due consideration and that we could bring over $18 million home, particularly addressing our district’s energy and water needs,&uot; Alexander said in a statement.

&uot;While we did not obtain everything that we wanted, given the tight budget constraints, we did very well. Every new session in congress is an opportunity to refocus federal funding on the needs of the 5th Congressional District. I will continue to lobby other members of Congress and committee chairmen to increase awareness of our district’s needs.&uot;