Commissioners Commend NEW Health for Transforming Healthcare, Strengthening the Economy, and Investing in Communities

In a time when many organizations are pulling out of rural America, NEW Health is leaning in making generational investments in the people, workforce, and communities of Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties.

Founded in 1978, in Stevens County, NEW Health has long been committed to promoting health and wellness by providing integrated, open-access care for all. As an FQHC, NEW Health is self governed by a required member composition of community member, user majority board of directors.

Current directors:

• Alison McGrane-Chair
• Carmen Deal- Vice Chair
• Tracy Aynes- Treasurer
• Ellen Ballance- Secretary
• Pete Lewis-Member
• Amanda Schalock -Member
• Deloris Henry-Member
• Kieth Ballance-Member
• Ken Rozelle-Member
• Dale Storer-Member

This requirement ensures a local voice in healthcare.

Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. Residents of our tri-county region face staggering disparities: travel times that stretch for hours across three mountain passes, some of the highest suicide and opioid rates in the state, and a life expectancy more than a decade lower than Washington’s average.

When CEO Desiree Sweeney assumed leadership, NEW Health was a financially distressed and struggling health center. Under her vision, the organization has been rebuilt into a thriving system of eight clinics, recognized as both healthcare leaders and some of the most respected employers in our region. NEW Health was honored in 2025 as one of the Inland Northwest’s Best Places to Work and achieved national certification as one of America’s Greatest Places to Work. NEW Health revenues have increased by 346%, but Desiree’s greatest achievement has been restoring access to high-quality healthcare for every resident, regardless of income or insurance status. In doing so, she has not only saved lives but also restored trust in a healthcare system many had given up on.

Her vision, however, extends far beyond healthcare. Recognizing the pressing need for sustainable economic opportunity, Desiree designed and launched a workforce training program rooted in Steven’s County and expanded into some of the most economically challenged counties in Washington. This initiative provides free education, hands-on experience, and living-wage jobs, offering residents a pathway out of poverty and into stable careers. The program has since been replicated in ten states and honored by the White House in 2023 as a national best practice.

The numbers speak clearly. Together, NEW Health clinics generate more than $58.6 million in annual economic impact, employing 189 full-time staff and supporting 388 indirect jobs. Over the next decade, NEW Health is projected to create more than $667 million in economic value for our region. These jobs are more than paychecks they are ladders out of poverty, anchors of stability, and essential to breaking cycles of generational hardship.

NEW Health has also secured $5 million in the Washington State Capital Budget to establish a regional workforce center, with additional support through Congressionally Directed Spending requests by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. This investment will expand training opportunities, build a stronger healthcare workforce, and ensure that families across Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties have access to both quality care and sustainable careers.

“NEW Health proves what can happen when vision, innovation, and accountability meet community need,” said Mark Burrows, Stevens County Commissioner. “Desiree took an organization on the brink of collapse and built it into a national model for rural healthcare. That success is not only saving lives, it is strengthening our economy. As county leaders, we cannot ignore the scale of this impact.”

In a time when many rural providers are closing their doors, NEW Health is choosing a different path expanding services, investing in people, and creating opportunity. This commitment has been recognized nationally, from the White House to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Commissioner added: “It is essential that every level of leadership, remain committed to the mission and future of this organization. Too much is at stake, for our economy, our workforce, and most importantly, the health of our people.”

Today, NEW Health is not simply a healthcare provider. It is a cornerstone of Stevens County’s economy, a training ground for the next generation, and a trusted partner in building stronger, healthier communities.