For the first time in nearly a decade, people in one area of Columbiana County will have a full-time health care center.

The center in Salineville is slated to open in October, but officials said they will need people's support to keep it long-term.

The center will be located in the Old Melhorn Clinic building and is being funded by the Affordable Care Act. The center will be the fifth federally funded health center that the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County has opened.

Beth Weir, executive director of CAA, said, the agency is partnering with River Valley Health Partners to provide doctors. They expect about 8,500 patients from the Salineville area and Carroll County.

"We can do all sorts of care, like prenatal care, children, teens, adults -- all of it," Weir said.

"The community of Salineville hasn't had a primary care physician for many years. So this will be new to a lot of people, and for some of the older population, they were used to this care," said Kenneth Cochran president and chief executive officer of River Valley Health Partners.

If President Barack Obama's health care act is repealed, Weir said the clinic would be in jeopardy and major health problems couldn't be addressed.

"Diabetes is a problem, obesity is a problem. Most of them are related to other factors too -- environmental factors, heredity, culture all sorts of things," Weir said.

After receiving the go ahead in June, Weir said federal funds only cover about 20 percent of their budget. So, the agency is asking the community to support the clinic to make it worthwhile in the long run.

Organizers said they want to provide access health care and the clinic gives them the ability to be where people are who need care.

The West Main Street clinic is slated to open by October 14 and health insurance plans, including Medicaid, will be accepted.