A $650,000 federal award is opening a new chapter for HAPPI Health, giving the Huntsville-based health organization additional resources to expand care for patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong and Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Tom Engels visited HAPPI Health on Thursday to mark the organization’s transition from a Health Center Program Look-Alike to a federally funded Federally Qualified Health Center.

The two toured HAPPI Health’s administrative offices and Sparkman clinic before joining CEO Michelda Johnson for a press conference on the impact of the designation.

“This allows us to transition from a look-alike as a health center to a fully funded community health center, and boy, oh boy, does it expand the access that we have for patients and for the community,” Johnson said. “This investment will strengthen our ability to expand access, to reach more patients, and to really serve the most vulnerable in the community.”

HAPPI Health was selected for funding through HRSA’s 2026 New Access Points program. The federal agency awarded more than $102 million to 158 health centers nationwide, funding intended to expand primary care access to nearly 1 million additional patients.

Strong said HAPPI Health’s $650,000 award came through a competitive process and would support care for North Huntsville residents who might otherwise have difficulty accessing health services.

“This is great for our community,” Strong said. “But this $650,000 came through a very competitive process, and it shows that you’re doing it right. You look at the patients that are being treated here who have access to health care who otherwise would not be being treated.”

The change in status is significant for HAPPI Health. As a Look-Alike, the organization already met federal Health Center Program requirements and received many of the benefits associated with FQHC status but did not receive Health Center Program grant funding.

The New Access Points award makes HAPPI Health a federally funded Health Center Program recipient, providing another source of support as it expands services throughout North Alabama.

HAPPI Health provides adult primary care, pediatrics, urgent care, behavioral health and other services. The organization accepts insured and uninsured patients and offers a sliding-fee program based on household income and family size.

“Any individual can walk inside of a HAPPI Health clinic, and regardless of their insurance status, they are going to receive quality care and wraparound services that really meet the needs of them and their families,” Johnson said.

Engels said his tour highlighted HAPPI Health’s use of technology and its focus on patient care.

“I just got a chance to tour and see a facility that is using technology that some other facilities that I’ve had a chance to tour haven’t even envisioned that they could install,” Engels said. “But they’ve been able to do it here because they know the importance of how it treats patients.”

Engels said federally qualified health centers are designed around the needs of the communities they serve.

“Regardless of who that patient is and what that patient’s economic status is, that patient deserves good-quality care,” he said.

For Johnson, the visit offered an opportunity to demonstrate what the federal investment will mean locally.

“Their visit gives us the opportunity to show them firsthand what federal investment in community health looks like right here in the Rocket City, in Huntsville,” she said. “We are grateful for their support, and we are grateful for HRSA’s confidence and investment in HAPPI Health.”

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