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NWACC Awarded Over $2 Million for Nursing Program
NorthWest Arkansas Community College received a grant of $2,110,901.58 on Monday, May 13, as part of the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) to support and expand the college’s nursing program.
“NWACC receiving the ALIGN grant from the state shows the commitment from Governor Sanders to strengthen the nursing workforce in Arkansas,” said Mark Wallenmeyer, dean of health professions of NWACC. “This grant will enhance the Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse programs here at NWACC and Northwest Arkansas. The funds will go towards equipment, new practical nursing faculty, and helping to cover costs for our clinical instructors. It’s going to be a great boost for our programs and our students.”
The Arkansas Office of Skills Development, part of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, awarded the grant, and the funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To be eligible, all applicants were required to work with a health care provider(s) to contribute towards the grant, which ALIGN then matched with two-to-one grant dollars.
Governor Sarah Sanders and Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald awarded the checks to several institutions across the state.
“We are very appreciative of this investment by our state leaders,” said Dr. Dennis C. Rittle, president of NWACC. “NWACC has one of the strongest nursing programs in the state, and these ALIGN funds will help us build on that success and increase the number of much-needed nurses in the local workforce. Thank you to our healthcare partners, Mercy Northwest and Northwest Health, for helping to make this possible.”