By Kelsey Durham
Queensborough Community College was awarded more than $11 million in CUNY grants last week that will be used to update facilities and programs throughout the campus.
The Bayside school is set to receive $11.5 million through the NY CUNY 2020 program, which was given $55 million from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2013-14 state budget to be awarded to city colleges and universities on a competitive basis.
Queensborough was allotted money through two grants that will go toward establishing two separate centers that will provide workshops on healthcare and 3-D printing.
QCC was given $10 million through the Center for Allied Healthcare Education and Workforce Development grant that will allow the school to partner with Urban Health Plan Inc. and create a healthcare clinic and training center in the northern part of the borough.
Plans for the center include a 19,000-square-foot facility that will offer training programs and clinical rotations for nursing students as well as students pursuing careers as phlebotomists and medical assistants, the school said.
The facility will also expand educational and training opportunities for students who attend QCC’s joint programs at York College, the School of Professional Studies and Queens College.
“This award brings our education, healthcare and legal services all under one roof in the heart of our community,” said Denise Ward, interim vice president of pre-college, continuing education and workforce development at QCC. “I see a great deal of potential for this industry and education partnership program as an educational model.”
The first grant will also help the school upgrade its on-campus biotechnology laboratory with new state-of-the-art equipment.
The school was awarded an additional $1.5 million in funds from the Advanced Manufacturing for Economic Development initiative that will pay for the creation of a manufacturing center that focuses on 3-D printing. The facility will be ready to use within six months, fully equipped with new printing machines that will be used in workshops and courses provided by the school for high school and college students.
“The momentum of 3-D printing to transform manufacturing means industries will need employees who understand how to use the new technology,” said Stuart M. Asser, professor and chairman of engineering technology at QCC. “The grant will support the students as they train to become highly skilled at using 3-D printers and computer drafting software.”
QCC President Diane Call said she was proud of the school’s hard work as an educational institution that led to its success in being chosen during the grant process.
“The $11.5 million award places us as a vanguard to serve two vital industry sectors: technology and healthcare,” she said. “I am extremely proud that Queensborough Community College has been selected for our innovative ideas and leadership to provide current and prospective students the education to pursue promising careers in fields so important economically to New York City, and especially the borough of Queens.”
Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurham@cnglocal.com.
