MONTICELLO - Hudson River HealthCare, which operates a health clinic for low-income families in Sullivan County, Wednesday, began construction for a new dental health center adjacent to their current facilities in Monticello.

After the dental center, the center plans to develop facilities for pediatric services, said Hudson River President and CEO Anne Kauffman Nolon.

“We already serve nearly 4,000 patients that come to the health center over 10,000 times a year, and with the expanded services, we will be able to provide dental services, which is such an important need in the community as well as put back in some pediatric care; the demand is always high but the services have been lowered now that the doctor has retired,” she said.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who attended a ceremony for the project, secured a $200,000 earmark to help equip the dental center, which also will use $350,000 in stimulus money.

“Dental services are critical but often unavailable to low-income individuals and families,” Hinchey said. “This expansion is going to improve access to dental services.”

When completed, the dental center will employ 12 full-time people.