Nearly $8 million in federal stimulus dollars is being delivered to 18 federally qualified health centers in Chicago.

The money is part of $15.2 million in Increased Demand for Service funds to be dispersed to 36 health centers statewide.

The funds will be used over the next two years to create or retain about 270 jobs across the state, federal officials say.

Officials at health centers submitted plans on how they would use the stimulus dollars. They include adding new providers, expanding operating hours and expanding services.

Statewide, the funding will help provide care to more than 66,000 patients.

“More Americans are losing their health insurance and turning to health centers for care,” says Mary Wakefield, an administrator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services agency. “These grants will aid centers in their efforts to provide care to an increasing number of patients during the economic downturn.”

The Chicago health centers receiving funding are:

• Access Community Health Network, $2,683,837
• Alivio Medical Center, $374,660
• Asian Human Services Family Health Center, Inc., $170,382
• Beloved Community Family Wellness Center, $116,530
• Chicago Family Health Center, Inc., $356,115
• Christian Community Health Center, $232,499
• Circle Family Health Care, $235,389
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois, $293,435
• Erie Family Health Center, Inc., $474,325
• Family Health Center, Inc., $268,486
• Heartland Health Outreach, Inc., $323,221
• Heartland International Health Center, $295,981
• Lawndale Christian Health Center, $667,129
• Near North Health Service Corp., $643,610
• Primecare Community Health, Inc., $258,904
• TCA Health Inc., $180,170
• University of Illinois at Chicago, $218,078