This money is part of the Capital Projects Sales Tax III (CPST3) referendum, agreed to by the citizens of Lancaster County as part of the 2020 election year.
Funds from CPST3 will pay for a portion of the cost of constructing a new health education facility to support an expansion of the existing USC Lancaster nursing program.
“This money, approved by the citizens of Lancaster County, is going to another worthy cause in helping to educate and teach future nurses locally in how to stay on the cutting edge of medical technology and patient care with the expansion of the program at USCL,” said Brian Carnes, Lancaster County Council Chairman.
Dr. Leigh Pate, associate professor and director of the USCL nursing collaborative program, is from Heath Springs and has taught numerous courses for the college of nursing and has a clinical background in several aspects of healthcare.
“The enhanced nursing education space at USC Lancaster will help equip and train future nurses locally and place them back into our community to lead and grow the profession, supporting a healthier Lancaster County,” Pate said. “This investment reflects Lancaster County’s mission to enhance quality of life by creating opportunities for people to live, learn, work, grow professionally, and serve the community they call home.”
County Council member Charlene McGriff, who is a past president of the USC Lancaster Education Foundation, expressed her excitement over the expansion of the nursing program at the school.
“USCL is a pipeline for future nurses right here in Lancaster County,” she said. “This expansion will go directly towards helping our local nursing students stay here in the community to help serve our local residents with their future medical needs.”
County Council member Steve Harper, who represents USC Lancaster within District 5, added that funds like this will only benefit the community.
“Having such an asset to the community like USCL and the nursing program can only help Lancaster County now and in the future with not only producing future nurses, but also in creating future opportunities for the college,” he said.
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