Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce in Southwest Missouri
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
December 21, 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million grant to Cox College of Springfield, Missouri, to renovate the existing nursing school building to accommodate growth among their training programs. The grantee anticipates being able to train roughly 465 new nurses in nine years.
“The collaborative efforts of local leaders will allow for new healthcare opportunities throughout southwest Missouri,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The expanded Cox College nursing school will help local workers gain the skills health care providers look for in a modern workforce.”
The project will enable Cox College to rehabilitate multiple floors of their existing nursing school building to address local and regional need for skilled workers. Southwest Missouri is experiencing an acute nursing shortage and the addition of these newly trained nurses will help to fill many vacancies in the region. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG). EDA funds the SMCOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
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.