North Shore Community Health Secures $3 Million Grant from Mass General Brigham to Expand Healthcare Access in Salem
Salem, Mass.—September 7, 2026
North Shore Community Health (NSCH) today announced a $3 million grant from Mass General Brigham to help bring a new and improved Salem Family Health Center to life. The funding represents Mass General Brigham’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to high-quality, community-based care and improving health outcomes for individuals and families across the North Shore. The grant will support construction of a 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art community health center in downtown Salem.
Founded in 1977, North Shore Community Health’s mission is to build healthy communities by providing exceptional care to all. The new Salem Family Health Center will meet an urgent and growing need in a community where NSCH already provides comprehensive care for 1-in-7 Salem residents and 1-in-4 Latinx residents. At the new health center, patients will be able to access primary care, urgent care, behavioral health needs, dental care, substance use disorder treatment, pharmacy services, insurance enrollment, and case management in a modern, welcoming facility built to match the exceptional quality of care NSCH provides every day. The project represents a major step forward for the community of Salem and a powerful investment in the well-being of the North Shore.
The project is the latest example of Mass General Brigham’s investment in community health across Massachusetts, including in Salem and surrounding North Shore communities. Recent efforts include expanding hypertension management, cancer screening, and mobile addiction treatment services into Salem through Community Care Vans, investing in regional food access initiatives through The Salem Pantry, and supporting the development of the Phoenix Food Hub in Lynn.
Together, these efforts help improve health outcomes that drive premature mortality, shorten life expectancy, strengthen local health infrastructure, and bring care closer to where patients and families live. “Improving health outcomes starts with ensuring that people can access high-quality care close to home,” said Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, Chief Community Health and Health Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham. “North Shore Community Health has long been an essential partner in caring for Salem residents, and we are proud to support a project that improves community health outcomes by strengthening local care and the services that help communities thrive.”
The new Salem Family Health Center is part of El Centro, a once-in-a-lifetime project that will bring $100 million in development to a previously underinvested area of Salem where the Point neighborhood meets downtown. NSCH has partnered with North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC) to complete the project. In addition to the improved and expanded health center, the campus will include 48 units of housing for very low-income seniors, a public park, and inviting public space with art throughout.
“This investment is a powerful affirmation of North Shore Community Health’s mission to build healthy communities by providing exceptional care to all,” said Margaret Brennan, NSCH President and CEO. “The expanded Salem Family Health Center at El Centro allows us to expand access to high-quality, culturally responsive care in Salem, strengthen our partnership with Salem Hospital, and ensure more residents across the North Shore have a welcoming place to turn for urgent, preventative, and ongoing medical attention.” A celebration event will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Additional details are forthcoming.
About North Shore Community Health
North Shore Community Health (NSCH) operates family medicine practices in Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester, serving over 16,000 patients annually. NSCH provides comprehensive primary care, dental, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment regardless of a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay. Learn more at nschi.org.
Media Contacts
Michea McCafferty
michea.McCaffrey@nschi.org
M: 978-825-1109
North Shore Community Health
27 Congress Street
Salem, MA 01970
McKenzie Ridings
Senior Manager, External Communications
Mass General Brigham
M: 617-224-8999
massgeneralbrigham.org