U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million to Build State-of-the-Art Nursing Training Facility at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia, to support workforce development and create jobs in the healthcare sector.
This grant will fund construction of a new instructional facility to expand the college’s nursing workforce development program and address labor shortages in the region. This EDA investment will be matched with $1 million in local funds, and is expected to generate $1.4 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
“As part of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda, we’re ensuring that workers have the skills and resources they need to secure good-paying jobs in the communities where they live,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will increase training opportunities in southern Georgia and create pathways to professional growth in the healthcare sector, helping to meet regional industry workforce needs.”
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to provide targeted, place-based grants designed to support local workforce development programs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA grant to support the nursing workforce development program will address the local labor needs of southern Georgia while building long-term economic resilience in the region.”
“Senator Warnock and I are pleased to help deliver this investment in Georgia’s health care workforce to ensure Mount Vernon, Montgomery County, and Central Georgia’s residents can get great health care,” said Senator Jon Ossoff.
“Nurses play a critical role in keeping us healthy and keeping our health care system afloat,” said Senator Raphael Warnock. “I’m proud to help secure this critical funding to address the nursing shortage in southeast Georgia. This funding is part of my broader efforts to improve health care access for all Georgians, especially Georgians in rural parts of the state. I’ll continue to support workforce development for medical professionals, fight for federal resources for rural hospitals, and work to expand Medicaid.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission (HOGARC). EDA funds HOGARC 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 invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.