The corridor in the 320 Prather Ave. building was officially opened with a ribbon cutting Wednesday. The event began with Evergreen’s CEO Ray Ganoe welcoming attendees, and talking about the history of Evergreen in Jamestown.

“Our history here in Jamestown began in 1991, when we were formerly known as AIDS Community Services,” Ganoe said. “We agreed to open a pilot study for the Department of Health AIDS institute with this new model of medicaid reimbursed case management program, which we still have some people who were working back then here today.”

In 2018 Ganoe said Evergreen Health opened a primary and specialty care facility out of the building on Prather Avenue. The agency offered HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment, along with prep services.

Since then, Evergreen Health has worked to bring all of its services to the area and into one building as the agency has in Buffalo. That has now been accomplished.

Laurie Matson, associate vice president of Southern Tier services for Evergreen Health discusses renovations and new services. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Laurie Matson, associate vice president of Southern Tier services for Evergreen Health, said Evergreen Health works to improve the health outcomes for people in urban and rural communities in the Southern Tier.

“This new welcoming and collaborative space will give individuals the opportunity to access the care that they need,” Matson said.

Services that will be offered in the new space include; primary care, Hepatitis C testing and care, sexual health testing and treatments, HIV prevention and prep, HIV testing and care, transgender care, housing, a syringe exchange program, drug abuser services, and care coordination.

Matson said there will be an increase in collaboration between all of the services now that they are all in one building, which will be hugely beneficial to patients. She added that there have been major renovations to create a welcome and safe environment for staff and patients, along with the ability to be handicap accessible. The amount of employees has also expanded, from five employees when Matson first started to 44 employees in the building now.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist thanked Evergreen Health for their effort in creating a new space that is welcome to any community that might not always be welcomed in the health care service. He said Evergreen Health has been focused on the LGBTQ+ community for a long time, which has also expanded over the years.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, thanks Evergreen Health for working to provide a new space for underserved communities in Chautauqua County. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

“But why a space like this, a new and inviting space, is so important for members of that community — for members of my own community — is because when you wanted to get health care services you were walking down a dimly lit hallway,” Sundquist said. “You went down to the basement and you hoped that no one would find out that you were just seeing a doctor. To have a location like this that is able to be brightly lit, that is welcoming, that provides unconditional health care support, primary care, to everyone in our community is such a wonderful relief to have here in the city of Jamestown.”

Also in attendance was County Executive PJ Wendel, who added that he was excited about the new services and space in the city, which he said is desperately needed.

“I remember walking into this building with the dark wood, and maybe that was the comfort zone back in the 1970s, but to walk in today, I was really astonished by the bright colors and vibrant greens and everything that this has to offer,” Wendel said. “I’m really excited about the services that Evergreen offers here in the Southern Tier, especially the southern part of Chautauqua County. These services are desperately needed throughout Chautauqua County, and I’m more than excited to see what you’ve done with this building, as the mayor said, to revitalize a building that might have otherwise been left to ruin.”

Wendel said the healing that Evergreen and the building has provided over the years will continue in new and broader ways with a new type of healing. He thanked Evergreen for making Chautauqua County their home for now and many years to come.

County Executive PJ Wendel said the new services that will be provided by Evergreen Health will help the community for years to come. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Evergreen Health’s CEO Ray Ganoe, welcomes attendees and talks a little bit about the history of Evergreen in Jamestown. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse