3 Arkansas Community Colleges to Receive Million-dollar Grants
December 2006

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Rep. Marion Berry announced Wednesday that Rich Mountain Community College in Mena has been awarded a $2.34 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Additionally, the University of Arkansas Community College of Batesville has been awarded a $1.99 million grant, and South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) in El Dorado has been awarded a $1.57 million grant.

The funding is part of the community-based job training grants program designed to help community colleges equip workers with the skills needed by growing local industries.

RMCC and its partners will use the grant to expand training opportunities and address shortages and vacancies in nursing occupations.

The news release from the Democratic lawmakers quoted estimates that said by 2020, Arkansas will face a 48 percent nursing shortage, with the state’s rural areas facing shortages of more than 60 percent.

The RMCC partnership includes National Park Community College at Hot Springs, Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia and St. Joseph Health System, among others.

Similarly, UACCB and its partners will use the grant to address existing nursing and allied health labor shortages in north-central Arkansas.

The UACCB partnership includes Arkansas State University at Mountain Home, Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, White River Medical Center, Baxter Regional Medical Center, Fulton County Hospital and Community Medical Center of Izard County, among others.

SouthArk will also use the grant to create new health care initiatives for southern Arkansas.

The SouthArk partnership includes the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, Medical Center of South Arkansas, Ouachita County Medical Center and others.