First Niagara funds rehab center renovation

Marvin Ostreicher, president of National HealthCare Associates; Lew Abramson, administrator, Cambridge Center; Michael Herlands, president of MBH Architecture; Matt Huber, First Niagara Bank; state Rep. Tony Hwang; John Carlin, Carlin Construction; and Michael Tetreau, Fairfield First Selectman.

First Niagara Financial Group announced it granted a $9.6 million loan to National HealthCare Associates”™ Cambridge Health and Rehabilitation Center for renovations and an expansion.

The renovation will add 22 private rooms to the facility on Easton Turnpike in Fairfield, bringing the total number of private care rooms to 48. Renovations include new lighting, room fixtures and adding an occupational therapy kitchen to the existing therapy gymnasium facilities.

In total, the upgraded facility will allow Cambridge to accommodate up to 160 short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term care residents. Construction began in April and is expected to be completed in 2016.

Over the past several years, First Niagara has provided financing packages to other centers within National HealthCare Associates, including ones in Massachusetts, Vermont and New York.