Burns gets $200,000 to enable Johnstown urgent care center opening
‘This should have been done four years ago, honestly’
Rep. Frank Burns August 9, 2025 | 2:57 PM
EBENSBURG, Aug. 9 – The first and only urgent care facility in Johnstown is moving toward fruition because state Rep. Frank Burns removed a development obstacle by delivering a $200,000 state grant to remove asbestos and install at least 75 new windows to replace asbestos-contaminated ones.
Johnstown nephrologist Dr. George Frem, who has a 10-year lease with the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority for the two-story Cambria Rowe Building, credits Burns with jump-starting his plan to open the state-of-the-art Ave Maria Medical Care Center.
“This should have been done four years ago, honestly,” Frem said. “Frank Burns is a good friend of mine, I love him dearly. I think Frank Burns has his heart for the community, and he cares. I put that on Facebook and that (ticked) off (some people).”
Frem said he worked closely with the late Rev. Monsignor Raymond Balta, who had served as JRA board chairman, on this project, which is estimated to provide up to 100 new jobs. Frem said although $4 million in funding was lined up, political dynamics entered the equation.
“They weren’t pushing too hard to get it done, for political reasons,” Frem said.
“For some reason, they didn’t include the asbestos into the project. We went to Frank (Burns), and basically told him the project won’t go on unless we remove asbestos, and we need $200,000. Frank did it for us. We filled out the paperwork in his office, and it was a done deal. At this point, we don’t need anything else.” – Dr. George Frem, Johnstown nephrologist whose Ave Maria Medical Care Center will be the city’s first and only urgent care facility.
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Before Balta passed away in December 2024, Frem said, “Monsignor Balta and I went to Frank Burns, and we said it’s a vendetta against us and against Frank Burns. I’ll say that on top of the roof. I don’t care. The truth is the truth.”
Frem added of the duo’s contact with Burns, “For some reason, they didn’t include the asbestos into the project. We went to Frank, and basically told him the project won’t go on unless we remove asbestos, and we need $200,000.
“Frank did it for us. We filled out the paperwork in his office, and it was a done deal. At this point, we don’t need anything else.”
During his 22 years in Johnstown, Frem said he has already started several companies that that provide health care for the community – a kidney center, lab, two dialysis centers, and three family practices.
In addition to providing urgent care on the first floor, Frem’s plans for the Ave Maria Medical Care Center – fully utilizing a 20,000-square-foot building that has been vacant for several years – include offering medical specialties such as X-ray and ultrasound on the second floor, along with a dietician-led cafeteria to prepare customized food for people with medical conditions, such as those who might need more potassium. He anticipates opening after 16 months of renovations begin.
Burns, who held several meetings with Frem and the late Monsignor Balta, said he has fully supported their quest to bring a critical care center to Johnstown because it fills a need. He decried any use of gamesmanship and said that practice must end.
“Someone with Dr. Frem’s type of track record in providing vitally needed medical services – and related job creation – should never be subject to stall-and-delay tactics on a project that benefits the community,” Burns said. “If I get wind that it happens again, to him or anyone else, rest assured I will be the one shouting it from the roof.”