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Rep. Inslee Announces $4.8 Million Grant for Everett Community College to Train New Generation of Health Care Professionals

June 29, 2010

Washington, D.C.¬¬ – This afternoon, Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01) joined Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to announce the release of $4,844,998 to the Everett Community College to fund the Healthcare Education-to-Career Opportunities (HECO) project.  This funding is a part of $125 million in grants going to 41 community colleges and organizations around the nation selected for the fifth and final round of Community-Based Job Training Grant awards.  The grant will help improve the ability of community colleges and other healthcare organizations around the Puget Sound region to prepare workers for employment in the high-growth, high-skill healthcare field. 

“Community colleges are a direct link to jobs in the community.   Right now, we need jobs and healthcare workers.  It’s a great fit for the Puget Sound and I am proud that Everett Community College stepped up and won this competitive award,” said Rep. Inslee.  “This year, as I worked to pass health insurance reform which expanded affordable quality health care, increased preventive care programs, and funded the creation of more community health clinics we knew more health care professionals would be needed.”

The HECO project will support a variety of education and training opportunities for much-needed healthcare positions, from short-term training for phlebotomy technicians to two-year programs for medical assistants and registered nurses.  The project is a partnership between community colleges and healthcare organizations from around the Puget Sound region and will offer a range of training options including self-paced, intensive, online, and contextualized instruction with integrated student support services.  It will primarily focus on training long-term unemployed, dislocated, and incumbent workers.

“The $125 million awarded today will create opportunities for working Americans to train for high-demand occupations with the help of our nationwide community college system,” said Secretary Solis.  “Our goal is to help workers across the country prepare for and secure good jobs, and with support from these colleges and other critical stakeholders, we’ll ensure we reach a broad base of individuals in need.”

Partnerships in the grant will include:
-Edmonds Community College
-Cascadia Community College
-Shoreline Community College
-Bellingham Technical College
-Whatcom Community College
-Providence Regional Medical Center
-Stevens Hospital
-St. Joseph Hospital
-Snohomish County Workforce Development Council
-Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council
-Northwest Workforce Council