U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $11 Million to Support Healthcare Workforce Development at Piedmont Technical College

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding an $11 million grant to Piedmont Technical College (PTC) to support healthcare workforce development.

The grant, along with $2.8 million in local matching funds, will support construction of a state-of-the-art health sciences facility on the PTC campus in Greenwood. Work on the new building is expected to begin soon.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda is committed to creating good-paying jobs throughout America in the most in-demand industries and getting workers the skills they need to take advantage of those jobs,” Raimondo said. “This EDA investment will help support workforce training in essential healthcare jobs and boost regional economic resilience in Greenwood County.”

Cristina Killingsworth, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, said her agency “is proud to partner with local communities to support place-based economic growth.”

“This project will enable Piedmont Technical College to better serve health sciences students, ensuring that good-paying jobs remain in the region,” Killingsworth said.

This project was made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Upper Savannah Council of Governments and Piedmont Technical College.

“We are immensely grateful for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s $11 million investment in our new health sciences building,” PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers said. “We look forward to collaborating with our partners to ensure this investment helps grow a strong healthcare workforce in our region.”

The 27,000-square-foot health sciences facility will feature amenities that include nursing simulation spaces, six skills labs and multiple classrooms.

“A key priority of this project is to create spaces that mirror real-world conditions, preparing our students to be work-ready upon graduation,” said Russell Martin, PTC’s assistant vice president of marketing and public relations.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

About Piedmont Technical College:
Piedmont Technical College (PTC) is a comprehensive two-year college offering hands-on training in the latest technologies and exacting skill sets that are most sought after by employers in our region. PTC contributes to the economic growth and development of the largest and most diverse region of the South Carolina Technical College System, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda counties. Throughout the region, PTC serves over 8,000 students annually.