ALBERTVILLE– Thrive Alabama plans to open a new community health center in Albertville after receiving a $650,000 federal grant intended to expand access to primary care in underserved areas.

The nonprofit health organization said the Albertville center will serve new patients from the broader community. It will also expand Thrive’s local presence beyond the HIV, sexually transmitted infection and pre-exposure prophylaxis services currently available through its Albertville satellite clinic.

In its official announcement, Thrive described the project as a new Federally Qualified Health Center that will make care more accessible to existing clients while opening services to additional patients.

“We are thrilled to be awarded funding to serve new patients in Albertville,” Thrive Alabama CEO Mary Elizabeth Marr said in the announcement.

Marr said rural communities across North Alabama have a significant need for additional primary-care providers.

Federal Records Confirm $650,000 Award

Federal grant records confirm that the organization received $650,000 through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Center Program. The award appears in the federal database under AIDS Action Coalition of Huntsville, Thrive Alabama’s legal and former organizational name.

The federal grant record lists the $650,000 funding action on July 23.

The Albertville project was among 158 health centers selected nationwide through HRSA’s New Access Points program. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government awarded approximately $102 million to establish 415 new health center sites across the country.

Federal officials estimate the new locations will provide care to nearly 1 million additional people.

The awards are intended to improve access to primary care, preventive services, mental health care, substance-use treatment, nutrition services and chronic-disease management. HRSA-supported health centers provide care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

Location and Opening Details

Thrive already operates an Albertville satellite office at 201 East McKinney Avenue, Suite A. The organization’s current website identifies that location as a point of contact for HIV care, STI services and PrEP.

However, Thrive has not announced that the expanded primary-care center will operate from the same address.

Thrive leaders told WAFF that the organization was searching for a location and hoped to open the clinic by mid-December. Thrive’s written announcement did not provide a firm opening date, stating instead that additional information would be released soon.

An exact address, opening-day schedule and regular operating hours have not been publicly announced.

Services Expected at the New Center

Thrive has not yet released a final service list specifically for the Albertville center. However, its broader network provides adult primary care, pediatric care, behavioral health services, health education, case management and transportation assistance.

According to Thrive’s adult primary-care information, services available through its health center network include:

• Annual preventive examinations
• Treatment for common illnesses and infections
• Immunizations
• Cancer screenings and referrals
• Diabetes management
• Blood-pressure and cholesterol management
• Care for arthritis and other chronic conditions
• Case-management services
• Translation assistance
• Transportation assistance
• Help applying for health insurance

Thrive has not confirmed which of those services will be available in Albertville when the new center first opens. In addition, the organization has not announced whether all services will begin at once or be introduced in phases.

Insurance and Payment Options

Under Thrive Alabama’s current organization-wide payment policy, patients may receive services regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

The organization says it accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare, Cigna, Tricare, Aetna and Humana. Patients are encouraged to confirm that Thrive is within their particular plan’s network.

Uninsured patients may qualify for a sliding-fee discount based on household income and family size. Thrive says the program is available to patients with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Self-pay arrangements and payment plans are also available. In addition, staff members can help eligible patients apply for Medicaid, Medicare or coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Although those policies apply across Thrive’s current health center network, the organization has not released Albertville-specific payment or enrollment instructions.

Staffing and Patient Projections Remain Pending

Thrive has not publicly announced how many people the Albertville center will employ, which clinical positions will be based there or whether the facility will include full-time behavioral health and pediatric providers.

The organization also has not released an estimate of how many Marshall County residents it expects to serve during the clinic’s first year.

Those details will help determine the project’s local impact, particularly in communities where patients may face long drives, provider shortages or difficulty obtaining routine preventive care.

HRSA reports that federally supported health centers served approximately 32.7 million people nationwide in 2025. That included about one in every five rural residents and millions of patients covered by Medicaid or Medicare or living without insurance.

For now, Thrive’s existing Albertville satellite may be reached at 256-660-5127. The organization is expected to release separate information about the expanded primary-care center’s address, opening date, staffing and appointment process as those plans are finalized.

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