County Executive Adam Bello announces more than ten million dollars in funding that will bring major upgrades to Monroe Community Hospital and strengthen specialized patient care

Monroe County, New York – Monroe County leaders say a major boost is on the way for one of the region’s most vital health care institutions. County Executive Adam Bello announced this week that Monroe Community Hospital (MCH) will receive more than $10 million in state funding to modernize and expand care for patients who rely on specialized services.

The $10.175 million grant, made possible through Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program, will directly support improvements to MCH’s pediatric and ventilator units. The award is part of a much larger state investment—$300 million spread across 50 projects—that aims to strengthen health systems across New York. Officials say the goal is simple: expand access to inpatient treatment, behavioral health, long-term care, and other essential services in a health care environment that is still recovering from pandemic-era strains.

For Monroe Community Hospital, the impact will be felt in areas where patient needs are especially acute. Pediatric services will see increased bed capacity, while the ventilator unit—critical for residents requiring constant breathing support—will undergo significant upgrades. The funding will also extend beyond clinical care, paying for renovations to an outdoor playground adjacent to the hospital’s facilities, a space used by children receiving long-term treatment.

Read also: Alumni mentorship helps students gain valuable industry experience and creates new opportunities for career growth and personal development

County Executive Bello framed the announcement as an investment not just in bricks and mortar, but in the county’s legacy of care. “This significant investment in Monroe Community Hospital reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality care for our residents,” Bello said. “Expanding and modernizing our pediatric and ventilator units ensure that our residents receive the specialized services they need. We’re proud to support MCH as it continues its nearly 200-year legacy of compassionate, cutting-edge healthcare in our community.”

Hospital leadership echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the lasting benefits of the grant. “This grant is an extraordinary boost for MCH and the community we serve,” said Alyssa Tallo, Executive Health Director of MCH. “It will help us expand and improve care in our pediatric and ventilator units, ensuring these vital services continue to meet the highest standards for years to come. I’m deeply grateful to our team for the dedication that makes progress like this possible, and to the State of New York for investing in our mission.”

The announcement comes at a time when Monroe Community Hospital is already in the midst of major upgrades. The Friendship Building, a central part of the East Henrietta Road campus, is undergoing renovations scheduled to wrap up in the summer of 2026. Once completed, it will house Friendship Place, a specialized facility designed for individuals with dementia who experience wandering-like behaviors. That initiative, supported through funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, highlights the hospital’s broad mission of serving patients with some of the most complex care needs.

Founded nearly two centuries ago, Monroe Community Hospital has long stood as one of Rochester’s most important health care resources. The institution, which moved to its current site in 1933, operates as a county-owned residential health care facility with full certification. It is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to long-term care, especially for patients whose conditions require higher levels of medical attention than traditional nursing homes can provide.

Read also: Monroe County introduces Honoring Our Workers Leisure for Less Week offering families discounts at the Seneca Park Zoo reduced golf course fees and waived permits for temporary food vendors

For residents, families, and caregivers who rely on the hospital, the new funding signals stability in a changing health care landscape. With the state’s backing, MCH is poised not only to sustain its services but to expand them, ensuring that vulnerable patients—children, individuals with chronic respiratory conditions, and adults facing memory challenges—receive support in a setting designed for both safety and dignity.

The $10 million investment is more than just a line in a state budget. For Monroe County officials, hospital staff, and the broader Rochester community, it represents a commitment to maintaining and strengthening a local institution that has quietly carried forward a mission of care since the 19th century. With construction plans set in motion and leadership expressing confidence in the hospital’s future, the upgrades are expected to keep MCH at the center of specialized care in the region for decades to come.