Warsaw, VA – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently unveiled a substantial grant awarded to the Rappahannock Community College Educational Foundation, Inc., located in Warsaw. The foundation is set to receive a generous $5.1 million EDA grant aimed at facilitating the construction of a Health Science building. This state-of-the-art facility will play a pivotal role in recruiting, training, and retaining healthcare professionals while creating pathways for ongoing educational opportunities. The project will be further supported by $1.3 million in local contributions, demonstrating a collaborative effort to enhance the region’s educational landscape.
Dr. Shannon Kennedy, President of Rappahannock Community College (RCC), expressed her enthusiasm for the transformative impact of this grant, stating, “We are thrilled to receive this substantial investment from the EDA. The construction of the Health Science facility marks a significant milestone for our institution, as it will enable us to expand our health science programming and better meet the healthcare workforce demands of our community.”
The new Health Science building represents the first major instructional construction project on a campus in over 45 years. This cutting-edge facility, to be situated on the Warsaw campus, will feature simulation labs, classrooms, student study rooms, and administrative offices dedicated to nursing, EMS, diagnostic medical sonography, and other health science programs. By addressing space limitations that have previously constrained program enrollment, the building will empower RCC to accommodate a greater number of qualified applicants and equip them with the skills needed to excel in the healthcare industry.
RCC plays a vital role in shaping the healthcare workforce in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck regions. With a track record of success in producing skilled graduates, including a high percentage of first-time licensure examination pass rates, the college is poised to further elevate its impact on the healthcare sector through strategic partnerships and innovative programming.
As Dr. Kennedy emphasized, “The new Health Science building will serve as a cornerstone for our exemplary health science programs, enabling us to train and empower a new generation of healthcare professionals. We welcome the community to join us in this endeavor as we work together to realize our vision for a brighter, healthier future.”
For more information about Rappahannock Community College and its initiatives, please visit www.rappahannock.edu.
