Kaweah Delta is beginning the decade with a ribbon cutting.

On Thursday, the health care network will open Sequoia Health and Wellness Centers in an effort to provide expanded care to Tulare County, including those covered by Medi-Cal or are uninsured.

Sequoia Health and Wellness Centers (SHWC) will open its doors in what was previously known as Kaweah Delta’s Family Medicine Center, located just north of Kaweah Delta Medical Center at 202 W. Willow Ave. in Visalia. On Jan. 14, from 5-7 p.m., members of the community are invited to attend a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration and tour the facility and meet the staff.

Under its new structure, SHWC will continue to provide a variety of health care services. It will also be applying to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), allowing access to state and federal programs and funding sources.

“This is an exciting moment,” said Ryan Gates, SHWC’s CEO. “Our community wants and deserves outstanding health outcomes and needs greater access to physicians.”

Through the FQHC co-applicant model is available to public entities, Kaweah Delta Health Care District will continue to own and operate the center, but it will be governed by an 11-member board of directors, 51% of whom will be patients of the center.