Congressman Boucher Announces Federal Funding for Community Colleges in Southwest Virginia

 
$2 Million in Federal Funding Will Be Used to Advance Allied Health Care Programs in Southwest Virginia

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his request, the U.S. Department of Labor is providing a $2 million federal grant to greatly expand healthcare training programs at community colleges which make up the Southwest Virginia Healthcare Workforce Development Consortium. The federal funds will enable Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, and Wytheville Community College to offer new courses and expanded technology to students interested in pursuing healthcare related professions. "This provision of federal funding will make available a variety of new programs and resources to students interested in employment in healthcare fields and will offer residents of Southwest Virginia significant new professional development opportunities," Boucher said.

Southwest Virginia healthcare providers are currently facing a labor shortage of healthcare workers and are often unable to fill vacant positions in specialized fields. With the benefit of the federal funding MECC, SWVCC, VHCC, and WCC will help fill this shortage by offering associates degree programs in the allied health fields of Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistance, Respiratory Assistance, Medical Laboratory Technology, Occupational Therapy, and Radiology. Each program will prepare students for employment in a particular allied health field through a standardized core curriculum, as well as distance learning opportunities and clinical experience.

Currently, only certain allied health degree programs are offered at each community college in the consortium, and students are faced with the prospect of commuting long distances in order to pursue education in their particular field of interest. Today's announcement will provide the funding necessary to establish new laboratory sites on each campus, hire faculty, and a develop courses so that each college in the consortium can offer degree programs in all of the allied fields.

By funding the allied health programs at each institution, the grant will enable students to receive training at their school of choice and prepare themselves for employment through use of the latest medical technology. Clinical experience will be provided to students through the use of mobile laboratories, as well as on campus simulation labs that utilize computerized equipment to simulate a hospital setting and hospital care. The grant will also make tuition assistance available to an estimated 40 students by covering the cost of an associates degree.

"I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Labor has agreed to provide this major allocation of federal funding to the community colleges which comprise the Southwest Virginia Healthcare Workforce Development Consortium. By offering specialized training in health care fields currently in need of skilled workers, the Consortium is helping to address healthcare needs of Southwest Virginia residents while advancing economic opportunity in our region," Boucher concluded.

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