Norwich — United Community & Family Services has received a multi-year $1.2 million federal grant as a result of its designation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration as a New Access Point, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced Tuesday.

The designation identifies the health center as one that provides care to underserved communities to increase access to "comprehensive, culturally competent and high-quality primary care," Courtney said in a news release.

“This new designation for UCFS is the result of a long, hard-fought battle to win well-deserved recognition for the excellent care that they provide for military families and veterans, seniors, Husky recipients, expecting moms and other members of the Norwich community,” Courtney said. “As a New Access Point, UCFS will now qualify for significant additional federal funding to support and grow health services for the thousands of local families who rely on the health center each year. I am pleased that our collective efforts to demonstrate the need for services, plan for the future care of patients in our district, and raise the profile of UCFS in Washington have yielded this excellent result.”

Chuck Seeman, president and chief executive officer of UCFS said the new designation has been a long time coming and will bring additional resources to northern New London County.

UCFS previously has applied for the New Access Point designation three times since 2011. The designation enables UCFS to access federal funding, tort protections and other benefits, according to the news release.

Courtney led Connecticut delegation letters to HRSA in support of UCFS’s NAP application each  time since 2011, and advocated directly to HRSA officials on multiple occasions, the release said.

The designation and grant came as a result of HRSA funding made available through the Affordable Care Act.