After nine months of construction, the Northwest Community Health Center opened a clinic in Troy on June 30. Serving 31 patients on its first day, the facility is expected to serve about 1,500 people annually.

Maria Clemons, executive director of Northwest Community Health Center, is excited for “the opportunity to provide comprehensive care to the community and bring additional oral health access on a sliding fee scale to those that need it.”

Sized at roughly 4,400 square feet, the clinic has the capacity to host five full-time employees — two medical providers, one behavioral health specialist, one dentist and one hygienist — as well as women, infants and children (WIC) services.

“The clinic will not open at capacity, but will be available to the Troy community five days a week,” Clemons said, adding that “we are still recruiting for a dentist and hygienist.”

One fully staffed, the Troy clinic will be able to provide the same services as the center’s Libby location except for pharmacy, Clemons said.