Neighborcare Health’s effort on Vashon received a boost today with the news that Gov. Jay Inslee had approved a request for $100,000 for the organization, which is set to open its new clinic on Vashon later this month.

The money will come from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund and was allocated after state Sen. Sharon Nelson asked the governor’s office for assistance, which Inslee acknowledged in a statement released earlier today.

“Sen. Sharon Nelson came to me with this request, and I’m happy to provide strategic reserve funding that will help re-open Vashon and Maury Islands’ … health clinic,” he said in the statement. “Neighborcare’s move to Vashon-Maury will give islanders affordable health care options and retain up to 20 clinical jobs.”

Nelson expressed gratitute for Inslee’s support, saying he “understood the situation we are in” and for the work of his staff member, Charles Knutson, who assisted in the process and grew up on Maury Island so was familiar with health care services on Vashon.

This governnmental support was expected and had been figured into the calculations regarding the clinic and what it would need from the Vashon community. Still, the news of the final approval was welcome news.

“I am really pleased,” Nelson said. “This is really important for Neighborcare.”