ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Manor College will expand and renovate its Dental Health Center thanks to a $625,123 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account.
“Moving this project forward will have a meaningful and lasting impact,” said Dr. Jonathan Peri, Manor College president. “It will provide our neighbors, especially seniors, with more high-quality, low-cost dental care.”
Local Share Account funds, derived from Commonwealth gaming revenue, support community improvement, economic development, and infrastructure projects. The grant received backing from Representative Ben Sanchez, Senators Art Haywood and Maria Collett, and Representatives Nancy Guenst and Melissa Cerrato.
Established in 1979, the Dental Health Center became a teaching facility in 1995 with the launch of Manor College’s Dental Hygiene program. The center provides services at rates roughly 50% lower than local private practices, serving more than 1,300 patients annually.
The center offers essential dental care to uninsured or underserved community members while functioning as a clinical training site for students.
“This project demonstrates a strong commitment to both education and community health,” said Sanchez. “Manor College ensures access to quality, compassionate dental care for our neighbors.”
The expansion will add new dental stations and equip them to accommodate more students and patients. Jaime Simpson, director of the Dental Health Center, called the initiative “truly transformational,” noting it will allow the program to admit more students eager to pursue dental hygiene careers.