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PUEBLO – �Ӱ������� will receive a $4.9 million Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to expand its healthcare training programs at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. 

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the award Wednesday. 

The grant will provide funding to complete PCC’s Nursing and Allied Health Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at St. Mary-Corwin. PCC is renovating two floors of the hospital’s vacant East Tower with a planned opening date of fall 2022. The project will allow PCC to add 225 students to its healthcare programs.

“The importance of growing our nation’s healthcare workforce cannot be overstated, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Raimondo. “This EDA investment in �Ӱ������� will allow for expansion of the healthcare workforce training programs, increasing the number of healthcare professionals to fill vital, good-paying jobs in the region, which will benefit both our nation’s economy and overall health.” 

PCC and St. Mary-Corwin announced the TLC project in 2019. The plan includes the expansion of PCC’s nursing, surgical technology, radiologic technology, medical assisting, respiratory care, occupational therapist assistant and physical therapist assistant programs, as well as its simulation center, learning labs, human anatomy lab and science lab. 

“We are eager to turn this dream into a reality for our students and our community,” said PCC President Patty Erjavec.

“As communities in Colorado continue to rebuild and recover from the COVID-19 crisis, I’m glad to see this important investment in �Ӱ�������,” said Sen. Michael Bennet. “We need to make investments like these in our communities to support our economy, build a more diverse workforce, strengthen local health care systems, and prepare for the next public health crisis.”

“Investing in workforce training will help �Ӱ������� get back to work,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper. “These funds will increase our skilled, front-line health care workers we rely on to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The EDA grant will be matched with $1.2 million in local funds.