CRANBERRY TWP — A new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic is expected to begin accepting patients here in mid-December.

The VA Cranberry outpatient clinic will be in Freedom Square at 1183 Freedom Road. It is expected to serve 3,000 area veterans.

The Cranberry Township clinic is one of 31 new facilities approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last December.

"We are very pleased the veterans administration has made a commitment to serve our veterans here in Southwest Butler County," said Dick Hadley, chairman of the township supervisors.

"The VA has been talking about this service becoming available for over a year and we have heard many supportive comments from our residents who would appreciate this service here. This will significantly reduce the traveling time our veterans must endure to receive the medical care that they have earned and deserve. We applaud the VA for making this a reality."

VA Butler Healthcare recently awarded the operation contract to Valor Healthcare.

The government health care contractor based in Washington, D.C., specializes in the development and operation of Community Based Outpatient Clinics for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Valor Healthcare will provide primary care, lab and radiology services, and VA Butler Healthcare will provide outpatient behavioral health services.