A group of New River Valley doctors’ bid to open a new health center in Blacksburg with federal dollars was unsuccessful.

The group, led by the Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems with help from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, was seeking to open a new federally qualified health center, similar to New Horizons Healthcare in Roanoke.

The center was intended to serve people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to health care, including those without insurance or Medicaid patients struggling to find a doctor.

The group applied for funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Earlier this month, the department said it would give $28.8 million to 67 community health center programs nationwide to establish new centers. The money was part of the Affordable Care Act. The Blacksburg site was not among those selected.

Dr. Cathy Callahan, who led the planning grant aimed at developing the Blacksburg site, said no Virginia applications were approved.

“This marks the first time in the last eight funding rounds that Virginia was not successful,” she said in an email.

However, only 8 percent of applicants were funded. Callahan said the application is valid for a year and if the government decides to fund more new centers it could still be considered.