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Collin College has been awarded a $2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) for building infrastructure improvements to support healthcare workforce training at the Plano Campus.

According to the U.S. EDA, the grant will support the construction of a new healthcare and instruction facility, preparing students for high-demand professions. The grant is also expected to create 4,000 jobs.

“This investment will provide significant opportunities for Collin College students and the North Texas region,” said Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College district president. “We are sincerely grateful to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for entrusting us with this financial investment to help expand and strengthen the healthcare programs and training resources at Collin College.”

“We would like to express appreciation to Stacey Webb, Economic Development representative with EDA’s Austin Regional Office, and Prit Patel, senior Economic Development manager at North Central Texas Economic Development District for their assistance and guidance,” Dr. Matkin added.

A primary focus of this Plano Campus project is to convert existing classroom space into state-of-the-art health science labs, providing students with hands-on training. Additionally, the renovation will incorporate green and energy-efficient elements.

“This expansion is not only about physical growth; it’s a testament to our commitment of nurturing the future of healthcare, expanding the horizons of healthcare education, and ensuring that our students receive the best resources while at Collin College,” said Michelle Millen, dean of academic affairs in health sciences and emergency services. “Our students will benefit from this investment as this will equip us to extend our offerings and help our students further succeed.”

This project aligns with Collin College’s commitment to enhancing its facilities and educational offerings. It is part of a broader renovation initiative that began following the 2021 Texas ice storms.

According to the U.S. EDA, the project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. This act provided the EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022.

“Congratulations to Collin College on being awarded EDA Disaster Relief Supplemental funds,” Patel said. “This $2 million EDA investment to construct a new healthcare instructional facility will lead to new job opportunities for students and a trained workforce for the healthcare industry. The North Central Texas Economic Development District is excited about the impacts this project will have to the region’s growing healthcare industry.”

Collin Collegeserves more than 58,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management, and a new Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visitwww.collin.edu.

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