Press Release
U.S. Commerce Department Invests $2 Million to Advance Healthcare Education in North Carolina
September 26, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Trustees of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College of North Carolina to support the renovation and expansion of Building 600 on the school's North Campus. The facility will be designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The project is expected to save 70 jobs, create 105 jobs and generate $45 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
"The Obama Administration is committed to creating jobs, encouraging innovation and improving our nation's economic competitiveness," Blank said. "This project will prepare students for high-skill, high-wage jobs in 21st century industries by expanding Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to meet the economic and educational development needs of the region."
The expanded campus building will provide state-of-the-art classrooms, labs and medical simulation space, helping to create a more collaborative, hands-on learning environment and promote high-quality healthcare education. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a significant provider of healthcare training and retraining in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, and this EDA investment will allow the college to better meet the urgent demand for trained healthcare workers in the region.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.