Clínica Tepeyac Investment in Denver Colorado

Opportunity Fund, the lending arm of Accion Opportunity Fund, is excited to announce its first New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) project in Colorado: the construction of a new health care facility for Clínica Tepeyac, a non-profit federally qualified health center, or FQHC, in Denver, Colorado. 

Clínica Tepeyac is based in the Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhood in Denver, which is one of the most polluted zip codes in the United States, and an economically distressed area. 

Since its founding, Clínica Tepeyac has expanded from a two-exam room clinic to an FQHC serving approximately 4,500 unduplicated patients annually, of whom 89% do not speak English as a first language, 96% are Latino, and 90% are below 200% of the poverty level. 

Clínica Tepeyac does not currently have space to adequately meet the community’s needs, making it imperative to build a new facility. This NMTC project will finance the construction of the ground floor retail component of a 150+ unit affordable housing development, which will be occupied by Clínica Tepeyac and also provide space for a fresh food retailer. 

The new 24,397 square-foot clinic will provide quality healthcare services to 9,600 unique patients annually (in addition to the 4,500 already served by the existing clinic), the vast majority of whom are estimated to be low-income and minority patients. The 5,380 square foot retail space occupied by a fresh food retailer will provide fresh and local produce with a tiered pricing structure beneficial to the neighborhood residents in a USDA-designated Food Desert.

The Impact

• 102 full-time permanent jobs projected to be created or retained (28 for low-income individuals), all paying living wages and receiving benefits
• 86 projected construction jobs (21 for low-income individuals), all paying living wages
• 9,600 projected unique individuals served annually (90% low income)

Community Demographics & Characteristics:

• Poverty rate: 31.2% 
• Household Median Income: 49.4% of Area Median Income 
• Unemployment: 1.28x the national unemployment rate 
• USDA Food Desert

Given COVID-19’s disproportionate short- and long-term impacts in low-income communities, access to quality and affordable health care will be especially critical. Funding of this NMTC project reaffirms our commitment to supporting affordable and comprehensive medical, mental, and dental coverage for our nation’s low-income communities.

If you are interested in learning more about our New Markets Tax Credit Program, please reach out to Marissa Meir at Marissa@OpportunityFund.org.