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STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106 |
M. Jodi Rell Governor |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2010
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Contact: 860-524-7313
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Governor Rell Celebrates Groundbreaking for
Center for Science, Health & Wellness at NCC
Governor M. Jodi Rell today celebrated the groundbreaking for the Center for Science, Health and Wellness on the campus of Norwalk Community College, a project that will expand the school’s capacity to educate future nurses and other health professionals.
NCC President David Levinson and Gov. Rell break ground at the Center for Science, Health & Wellness.
“Groundbreakings are ceremonial – but they are definitely milestones worth measuring.” Governor Rell said. “Today is one more milestone of support for this project. We marked another such milestone about four months ago when we announced $18 million in state bonding for this $38 million project. In this extremely difficult economy, that is a sign of our commitment to education and to keeping and growing jobs.
“This is also a great example of a smart investment: It is a job generator from the moment the shovel hits the ground, and long after the last construction worker walks off the finished site the benefits will continue,” the Governor said. “This laboratory of learning will turn out highly skilled and much-needed health care workers.
“It will also showcase the technology and engineering that has made Connecticut a leader in environmentally friendly industries,” the Governor said. “We are getting ‘greener’ with every new project and this building will be a testament to that when completed. Its design will meet the silver standard under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design requirements, truly making it a jewel in our education system.”
The project includes a 55,000-square-foot, brick and glass addition and 28,500 square feet of renovations to the existing A-Wing of the community college. The new addition will include program space for the Leadership, Fitness and Exercise program, classrooms and laboratories for the nursing and allied health programs and new science laboratories and offices. The renovated A-Wing will include classrooms and studios.
The Center for Science, Health, and Wellness will provide a new home to the growing nursing and allied health programs and state-of-the-art laboratories for the science program, which has occupied lab space from the 1960s-era Norwalk State Technical College facility. Renovations in the A-Wing will allow the Art Department to expand into new space and provide much-needed classrooms.
Funding includes private support raised by the Norwalk Community College Foundation Inc. through the Campaign for Norwalk Community College, consisting of $2.38 million for construction costs and $7.5 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Norwalk Community College currently serves more than 6,400 students and enrollment is rising. The College is known for its information technology courses and its health-related programs.
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