Cleveland State Community College was awarded a $300,000 Rural Healthcare Grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to expand healthcare programs in the college’s five county service area of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk counties.
The grant is a partnership between the Adult Education, Workforce Development, Healthcare departments at the college and local healthcare employers. Adult Education will provide services for students in workforce preparedness and skill upgrading in math and reading as well as career planning.
Workforce Development will provide short-term bootcamps in entry-level healthcare careers such as Phlebotomy, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Billing and Coding. Tuition assistance will be available for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) basic and paramedic courses. Grant funds will also provide tuition, gas and childcare assistance to qualified students enrolled in the bootcamps.
“Cleveland State Adult Education is excited to offer financial assistance to individuals interested in healthcare programs who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend,” said Angela Cooper, Adult Education director. “We are looking forward to strengthening community employer partnerships by providing a pipeline of talented and skilled individuals.”
Officials said, "The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is leading efforts to address workforce shortages across various industries, with healthcare as a priority. Governor Bill Lee is prioritizing initiatives to improve rural healthcare. As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, the challenge of recruiting and retaining talent is compounded by barriers that students face, such as limited financial support and training opportunities. This initiative aims to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals in rural communities."
For more information about the Adult Education program, call 423-614-8763 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.