Funding Will Help Develop NCC's Monroe County Campus and Provide Upgrades for the Campus-Wide Security System

TANNERSVILLE - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) announced two grants totaling $700,000 for Northampton Community College to help the school's Monroe County campus further develop its curriculum, purchase new equipment, hire and train faculty, and further develop a partnership with The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton.  The funding will also support needed upgrades to the school's campus-wide security system.  The funding was secured in the Consolidated Appropriations Act which Congress passed with Congressman Kanjorski's strong support and was enacted on December 16.

"The funding for Northampton Community College will help the school further develop its Monroe County campus and continue to ensure the safety of all students and faculty," said Congressman Kanjorski.  "The school's Monroe County Campus provides a valuable resource to many residents living in the Poconos, and this funding will enable students to learn the skills that will make them assets to employers in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Especially in these difficult economic times, it is important that students build up their skill sets and receive training that will help them thrive after they graduate."

"I am grateful for Congressman Kanjorski's support of our programs to help further develop needed curriculums for our students and provide a safe atmosphere for every one of our campuses," said Dr. Arthur L. Scott, President of Northampton Community College.  "With this funding, we will be able to help more students learn about a variety of fields that they may enter after they graduate.  We are pleased to receive the financial assistance from the federal government to allow us the opportunity to continue to service the community and its residents."

As Northampton Community College further develops its Monroe County campus, the first federal grant of $400,000 will help advance various aspects of the new campus.  The funding will help the school expand its curriculum in Monroe County, particularly in culinary arts, hospitality, and the health care industry as many jobs in the area cater to Monroe County's expanding resort industry, as well as Allied Services and local hospitals.  It will also enable the school to create three more biotechnology labs which will help students learn more about the sciences and help prepare students to work for Sanofi Pasteur's facility in Monroe County.  Additionally, the funding will enable Northampton Community College to hire and train more faculty at its Monroe County campus.  Finally, it will also help the school further develop a partnership with The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton which aims to increase the number of minority students pursuing careers in the medical and health fields by having them start at Northampton Community College and then transfer to The Commonwealth Medical College.  The funding would specifically aid with scholarships for participating students.

In May, Congressman Kanjorski submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies in support of funding for the Northampton Community College Monroe County campus.

A second federal grant of $300,000 will help Northampton Community College provide needed upgrades to its campus-wide security system.  The upgrades will enable the school to effectively communicate between its three campuses and with first responders in emergency situations through a radio system.  The funding will also allow the school to purchase a wireless emergency notification system to send urgent announcements out immediately across all campuses and record messages that can be played in classrooms.  In addition to Congressman Kanjorski, the funding for upgrades to the school's campus-wide security system was also secured with the help of Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA).

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