Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - funding opportunity number: hrsa-22-135 cfda: 93.493 applicant name: tillamook BAY community college descriptive…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - funding opportunity number: hrsa-22-135 cfda: 93.493 applicant name: tillamook BAY community college descriptive title of project: nursing education and economic opportunities for tillamook BAY 4301 third street, tillamook, or 97141 president, ross tomlin, ED.d. (503) 842-8222 https://tillamookbaycc.EDU/ tillamook BAY community college (tbcc) is seeking to launch a nursing degree program to meet the county's critical need for registered nurses (RN) and to support educational equity and economic growth opportunities for students in rural tillamook county, oregon. In january 2021, oregon health authority published a report on oregon's healthcare workforce. The report found that in rural areas, specifically in communities along the oregon coast, there are areas of high-unmet healthcare need. Even prior to the impacts of covid-19, the healthcare system in tillamook county, which is within congressional district 5, was experiencing an ongoing acute need for registered nurses. Nursing is a high skill, high-wage occupation that requires specialized training and serves as a cornerstone to a quality healthcare system. Rural and medically underserved areas of oregon face challenges in attracting and retaining these high demand professionals. IT is critical that we strengthen this infrastructure to deliver healthcare to underserved areas. A strong local nursing degree program can help support this effort in tillamook county. In 2019, tillamook BAY community college commissioned a community engagement survey to understand programs the college should be considering in order to meet the community's future workforce needs. Healthcare occupations led the list of the emerging jobs in tillamook county. In interviews, focus groups, and town halls, healthcare occupations dominated the discussion. In particular, people wanted to see the community "grow our own," from nurses and cnas to emts, paramedics, and technicians. A "grow our own" model has been used succe ssfully across other tbcc programs such as teacher education and in the industrial technology program. Because of this input, employer demands, and economic projections, tbcc has included healthcare program development as part of the career-technical education needs addressed in our facilities master plan.