JOHNSTOWN-A $2.9 million federal grant announced Friday is intended to help the unemployed find job training and placement in the medical field.
The money will fund the creation of a Healthcare Employment and Leadership Training Hub program at Fulton-Montgomery Community College.
The funds will be distributed over three years and go toward training 233 people-102 certified nursing assistants, 17 registered nurses and 114 current registered nurses. Current registered nurses may apply for supervisory training to upgrade their skills.
The grant will fund tuition reimbursement, books, classroom supplies, transportation and child-care expenses for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend classes.
Though FMCC President Dustin Swanger said there is no income requirement for enrollment, the program is targeted toward unemployed people whose benefits have run out, or people who are on public assistance. Applicants may file for consideration at the Workforce Development Board in Amsterdam.
"We'll be assessing [applicants] very carefully," said Gail B. Breen, executive director of the Workforce Development Board. "We're looking to help people who have no other resources available to them."
Swanger also said the college will use the funding to hire new instructors in the program and purchase two patient care training manikins that can be programmed to exhibit symptoms of various diseases and injuries.
"These manikins are highly sophisticated technology," Swanger said. "I haven't seen any in the region."
Swanger did not say the exact number of teacher positions that will be created as part of the program.
Spanish-language training will also be offered as part of the program.
Nicolas Morales, deputy director of Centro Civico of Amsterdam, said he sees people who are intelligent and capable but can't move up in their careers because of a language barrier. He said the funding will offer a hand up instead of a handout to people of low socio-economic status.
"We believe in teaching people to fish," he said. "This is just a piece of the puzzle. A well-skilled work force opens doors for business to come in."
Both Donald Massey, vice president of Continuum Services at St. Mary's Hospital, and Cheryl McGrattan, a spokeswoman for Nathan Littauer Hospital, said the program will help the local hospitals secure a work force that is trained in the latest medical trends.
"[Job creation] is a moving target, and part of an ongoing process as we open up new services and expand," Massey said.
"As we grow, we're excited to have a work force and avoid brain drain," McGrattan said.
The FMCC nursing program has 62 first-year students and 46 second-year students this year. Registered nurses must have two years of training, while certified-nursing-assistant status requires a shorter period of training.
Fifteen area medical facilities and other organizations have teamed up with FMCC to ensure beneficiaries of the program gain employment.
"This is designed to put people back to work," Swanger said.
Now the college is the process of planning, since the funds won't kick in until August.
Also Friday, it was announced Hudson Valley Community College in Troy will receive $3.4 million in stimulus funds for job training in health care, biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
"These Recovery Act funds are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing creating jobs and helping to retrain and refine the work force of tomorrow, today," U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-Amsterdam, said in a news release about the funding.
Amanda Whistle can be reached by e-mail at montco@leaderherald.com.
