BC3 to get $500,000 from 2023 federal budget
A $500,000 allocation to buy equipment and technology for Butler County Community College’s nursing and allied health program has been approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
The BC3 allocation is part of $17.5 million in funding in the 2023 federal budget for 17 projects in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Funding for all the projects was contained in 12 appropriations subcommittee bills that were advanced by the committee, U.S. Sen Bob Casey, D-Pa., said Friday.
BC3 will spend the money to prepare classrooms, laboratories and simulation labs for the Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health that will be housed in the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building.
Construction of the building at BC3’s main campus in Butler Township began in October last year and is on schedule to open for the fall 2023 semester. The $14 million building is part of a $21 million south campus construction project that began in June 2020.
“This was a great opportunity for the college,” said James Hrabosky, BC3 vice president for administration and finance, about working with Casey’s office to submit the appropriation request. He said the money will be used to purchase classroom equipment, technology, simulation equipment and laboratory equipment.
The items will be purchased in about nine months so they will be ready to be installed after the building is finished in May or June of 2023, he added.
Construction is on schedule.
“We’re on schedule and on time. Were moving forward. We’ve had very little disruption as far and rain and coldness,” Hrabosky said.
The appropriations bills will have to be passed in the Senate and then will enter a period of review with appropriations bills from the House of Representatives. Once both the Senate and House agree to legislative text, they will be sent to the president for his signature and enactment into law, Casey said.
