The college received funding from two sources recently: the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Rural Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Grant and from Clay Buttrey of Baird Wealth Management.
Columbia State Community College recently received funding from two separate sources. The college received a Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Rural Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Grant to expand its Clinical Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy programs. The other funding is an unrestricted gift from Clay Buttrey of Baird Wealth Management that will allow the college to spend the money however it sees fit.
According to an article on Columbia State Community College’s website about the Rural Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Grant, Patrick McElhiney, who serves as the college’s director of grants, was quoted as saying of the funding, “Columbia State is committed to expanding access to healthcare career pathways in our rural communities. This grant removes financial barriers for students pursuing high-demand healthcare careers while addressing critical workforce shortages in our rural communities.”
The grant will allow the college to expand its certified clinical medical assistant and phlebotomy short-term credential training programs. A total of 56 students in two 14-week CCMA cohorts at the Columbia Campus and three 6-week phlebotomy cohorts at both the Columbia and Lewisburg campuses will receive nearly free tuition, as well as have all of their certification exam fees covered.
Dr. Kevin Ratliff, the vice president for partnerships, Workforce and southern campuses, said, “Our students are stepping into high-demand healthcare roles and bringing skilled, compassionate care back to the neighbors and communities that need them most. This grant ensures more of them can answer that call without financial barriers standing in the way.”
The college has partnerships in place with Maury Regional Health, the Southern Middle Local Workforce Development Board, and South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance that will utilize the grant funding to provide students with wraparound support services like transportation and childcare assistance.
In a separate article on Columbia State Community College’s website that covers the unrestricted gift presented to the college by Clay Buttrey, Dr. Janet F. Smith, the college’s president, expressed her gratitude. She is quoted as saying, “Your gift makes a difference in the lives of students. It provides an opportunity that sometimes they can't get anywhere but here. Education changes lives. We know that's what getting an education does, that it opens doors. This provides an opportunity for our students to go and to grow. One, go to college, and two, is to grow to become who they want to be. Through this gift, you are giving back for years to come. It's a continual thing. It continues to grow, and as we have one student grow, then hopefully they will help someone else to grow along the way.”
Buttrey presented his gift during a luncheon he hosted at Graymere Country Club. He has given his personal contribution as an unrestricted gift, meaning the Columbia State Foundation and the college can work together to identify the causes that will benefit most from Buttrey’s gift.
Buttrey is the vice president and associate financial advisor at Baird Wealth Management. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and eventually, his career pivoted into financial advising.
He said, “Over the years, I've invested my money and done well. And it's allowed me to do this. I'm happy to give and I hope to continue to be able to do so.”
For more information about Columbia State Community College, visit the school’s website.