Middletown officials are celebrating a newly transformed community health clinic that took five years and $7.5 million to complete.

Cornerstone Family Healthcare unveiled the Rowley Family Pavilion, a clinic named after one of its main funders. The project had been in the works since 2019 but was delayed several times due to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local health advocates said the clinic, which will expand services, will help lessen the steady flow of some patients to local emergency rooms. They also say it will serve more of the neighborhood's underinsured and uninsured residents.

"Providers and staff don't just do this work as a job," said Rose Duhan, of the Community Healthcare Association. "It is a calling."

Manuel Marin, who walks with a slight limp and uses a cane, went on a tour of the updated facility Tuesday morning. He said he plans to come for physical therapy because of his "bad foot" and other checkups. Previously, he would go to the ER, if he could find transportation. The new clinic was designed to solve problems like the ones Marin faces.

"It's important because you don't have to travel very far," he said in Spanish.

Health advocates said close and easy options help keep unnecessary ER visits down and prevent large ER bills that may go unpaid.

"One of the things we continually have to struggle with is people using our hospitals as their general practitioner," County Executive Steve Neuhaus said.

Neuhaus praised the advocates for their work and hopes more clinics come to the area.

"Looking forward to the next big thing…A lot of people know me. I'm already focused on the next big thing," he said.

Some of the newly added rooms were either empty or still appearing to be under construction.

A staff member told News 12 that the project is in its final stages and staff will be using the additional space in about one-month.

The clinic is just outside Middletown’s downtown area on Benton Avenue.