Northeast State Community College receives grant for rural healthcare development

Northeast State Community College has received a $233,376 grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant will run through June 20, 2026 and will allow the college to offer short term healthcare training classes, as the grant was provided to help strengthen and expand the state’s healthcare workforce.

According to an article on Northeast State Community College’s website, Northeast State Adult Education Director Anita Ricker was quoted as saying of the grant, “This will provide a tremendous opportunity for our adult education and workforce solutions students to pursue a healthcare pathway with no fees. And ultimately, we are focused on providing training or apprenticeship opportunities to help students find jobs with livable wages.”

From July 1, 2025 through June 20, 2026, the college will be able to provide courses like Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, and Peer Recovery Specialist to individuals who reside in Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.

The grant funding will cover tuition to the program, as well as assist with other needs that may keep students from being able to attend classes, such as childcare, exam fees, and transportation costs. The idea of the grant program is to expand the access to healthcare training so that the community as a whole can have access to more healthcare providers and services.

The college will work with state and regional partners to bring the short term training courses to fruition.

For more information about Northeast State Community College, visit the school’s website.