Acacia Network, along with Promesa Inc. and Hispanics United of Buffalo, will hold a virtual town hall for the community Friday at 9:30 a.m to discuss the new outpatient substance use clinic being planned in the city of Dunkirk.

“Once again I want to let the public know I’m in full support of this clinic opening in Dunkirk,” Mayor Wilfred Rosas said. “This is desperate need for our area. This town hall is a sign of the group wanting to reach out to the community in a show of being a good neighbor.”

There have been multiple attempts to bring a methadone clinic the past couple of years. It started with talks of it being built next door to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School’s playground back in June of 2018; at that time parents of students rallied against the business, citing that it could bring people in from out of town that may be detrimental to the city in their opinion.

See CLINIC, Page A5

Hispanics United scouted through at least eight sites before recently deciding on the building next door to Weiss’ Hardware, 303 Main St. They purchased that along with Weiss’ building and intend to soak over $1 million into it — in addition the clinic will bring in 30 additional jobs in both health care and security.

“It’s something that is needed,” Rosas said. “It’s going to help with addiction in the area, take over a vacant building and bring new jobs with benefit packages to the city.”

Registration to participate in the virtual meeting can be done by visiting https://bit.ly/dunkirkmeeting; any questions can be sent to Elizabeth Smith B.A. CASAC at esmith@hubwny.org.