Nashua Community College will receive $1.4 million in state capital funding to create a 2,800-square-foot instructional facility for health care workforce training, the college said.
The new Allied Health Instruction Space will be built above the existing rooftop terrace on the third floor of Judd Gregg Hall. It is intended to support the college’s Licensed Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nursing and Medical Assisting programs, along with other health care programs that are existing or being developed.
Programs tied to employer needs
The project comes as Nashua Community College expands its health care instruction and responds to staffing needs identified by health care employers across New Hampshire. The college said its nursing associate degree program historically enrolled 24 students each year. After additional faculty resources were added, enrollment reached 32 nursing students this year.
James Keane, president of Nashua Community College, said the funding will add space for hands-on instruction and create additional routes into health care careers.
“This investment represents an important step forward in our commitment to training the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said James Keane, president of Nashua Community College.
The college is also examining a possible Licensed Practical Nursing-to-Registered Nursing bridge program. Such a program would allow licensed practical nurses to continue their education and earn additional credentials while helping health care providers retain and develop employees, the college said.
Planned uses for the facility
The addition will complement the college’s current nursing laboratory and provide dedicated instructional areas for programs that face space constraints or are still being developed. The planned space is designed for use during daytime, evening and weekend hours.
- Funding: $1.4 million in state capital funding
- New space: 2,800 square feet in Judd Gregg Hall
- Programs: Licensed Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nursing and Medical Assisting, among others
- Nursing enrollment: 32 students this year, compared with a historical annual enrollment of 24
The facility is expected to give the college separate learning environments for allied health programs while expanding the hours in which health care instruction can take place. The funding and construction plan are part of the college’s effort to increase training capacity for occupations that employ workers throughout New Hampshire.
