Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Break Ground on Westside Clinic

Building partners, local supporters, and community leaders gathered Friday afternoon to officially break ground on the new Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) Westside Clinic.

The highly anticipated event took place at the construction site at 621 W. Micheltorena Street, marking the beginning of a significant project aimed at improving healthcare access for thousands of Santa Barbara residents.

The state-of-the-art, three-story facility will expand medical, dental, and behavioral health services to more than 8,300 children, adults, and seniors annually. Once completed in September 2026, the new clinic has the potential to increase SBNC’s patient capacity by 25%, enabling the organization to serve up to 25,000 individuals each year.

“We are building more than a clinic,” said Dr. Mahdi Ashrafian, CEO of SBNC, “We are building a sustainable model for community health—one that removes barriers and ensures that care is there when people need it most. From a medical perspective, rising tides do lift all boats and so caring for each individual means an overall healthy community.”

The new clinic will serve as a hub for SBNC’s network of neighborhood clinics, which currently includes locations in Isla Vista, Eastside Santa Barbara, Goleta, and the Bridge Clinic, along with their dental office. Leaders highlighted the comprehensive approach of delivering care for the whole person in one location, making healthcare more streamlined and accessible for patients.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics currently serve over 18,000 residents annually, with 92% of patients classified as low-income and 23% being children or adolescents. Dr. Ashrafian emphasized SBNC’s commitment to providing affordable and high-quality care to underserved populations across the community.

“The new clinic includes medical, behavioral health, and dental services all under one roof,” said Ashrafian. “In this way, the facility embodies SBNC’s goal of providing care for the whole person in one location. This makes our care more accessible to our patients.”

Attendees included Co-Chairs Janet Garufis of Montecito Bank & Trust and Jim Jackson of the Jackson Family Foundation, City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez, as well as SBNC representatives and supporters.

The groundbreaking event signals an exciting step forward for healthcare equity and innovation in Santa Barbara, bringing the community closer to a healthier and more accessible future.