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AHOSKIE – The recently approved state budget brings good news to the local area, including a $15 million appropriation to Roanoke-Chowan Community College for the construction of a new allied health building on its main campus in Union.

“We are pleased and excited to receive this funding allocation that will make construction of a new allied health building possible,” stated Dr. Murray J. Williams, president of R-CCC. “On behalf of the leadership team, faculty, and staff at R-CCC, I wish to thank State Senator Bobby Hanig and State Representative Bill Ward for their support of this appropriation and our college.

“A new allied health building will allow us to expand allied health education and provide a ‘pipeline’ of health professionals to meet the healthcare employer needs in the Roanoke-Chowan area,” Dr. Williams added.

R-CCC Board of Trustees Chair Ronald J. Gatling was elated over the news of the state funds received for the project.

“We are most appreciative of this funding for our college included in the state budget this year,” Gatling said. “I would like to express our gratitude from the R-CCC Board of Trustees to our local legislators for their support, and to the General Assembly for recognizing the higher educational needs of students in Hertford County.”

Hanig, who represents District 3 in the State Senate, referenced the funding as “monumental” for Roanoke-Chowan Community College.

“I have visited the campus and am an advocate for educational needs in the area,” Hanig said. “This appropriation to provide increased space for allied health instruction is long overdue and will be a ‘shot in the arm’ to help meet the healthcare needs in that region.

“I am proud that the northeastern North Carolina region has done so well in the 2023 NC State Budget,” concluded Hanig.

“It is a great day at Roanoke-Chowan Community College,” stated Andre Lassiter, Chair of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners and member of the R-CCC Board of Trustees. “This is truly a game changer for health in the Roanoke-Chowan area. Thank you to the General Assembly and especially Senator Hanig and Representative Ward for your leadership and effort you have put forth because this truly will change the landscape of healthcare in this community.”

“I am pleased to be able to assist Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and so proud that R-CCC is being recognized for the good they are doing in educating students in Hertford County. I’m aware of the educational needs in the county, and just so happy to be of assistance,” said Ward, who represents District 5 in the State House of Representatives.

A new allied health building will provide increased instructional space, including laboratories and equipment for healthcare students, including the Nursing Program (associate degree), and Continuing Education Allied Health courses, including Nurse Aide I and II; Emergency Medical Services, Paramedicine, Phlebotomy, Healthcare Billing and Coding, Medical Assistant, EKG Technician; Pharmacy Technician, and Dietary Management.

More information about the nursing, and allied health programs at R-CCC can be found on the college’s website at www.roanokechowan.edu.

The new state budget also includes money for other projects and entities in the Roanoke-Chowan area. The R-C News-Herald has reached out to other members of the NC House who represent the local area in an effort to report on the total amount of funding included in the new state budget for Bertie, Gates, Hertford, and Northampton counties. That story will be published in an upcoming edition.