By Derek Spellman

dspellman@joplinglobe.com

NEOSHO, Mo. — Crowder College has been awarded a federal grant of more than $1.4 million to expand its training programs for health-care fields, officials said Thursday.

The grant from the Employment and Training Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is principally to address the escalating need for nurses, and will be used for additional equipment and offerings, said Cindy Brown, director of public information for Crowder.

“We’re very excited about (the grant),” she said.

The award comes with several specific goals for Crowder, including:

Increasing the number of nursing graduates from its Nevada campus from 25 to 50 per year.

Initiating a nursing associate degree program at the campus in Cassville. This program would serve 25 students per year.

Creating an associate of applied science in health occupations degree program that would allow students with a certificate in a health-support area, such as emergency medical technician, to transfer credits into the program.

“This announcement is a win-win for families in Southwest Missouri,” U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond said in a statement. “With these federal funds, Crowder College will increase the number of critically needed health-care professionals and provide new career opportunities in our rural communities.”

Crowder embarked on a nursing program at its Nevada campus in August. Now, it will bring the same courses to its Cassville campus. The Neosho campus has been offering nursing programs for a number of years.

“That is a huge program for us,” Brown said.

Another grant feature is the creation of a “pipeline” that streamlines students’ matriculation through Franklin Technology Center in Joplin, Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University.

The Student Nurse Accelerated Program would allow students to enter the licensed practical nursing program at Franklin Tech, then obtain an associate degree from Crowder before transferring to MSSU for a bachelor of science degree in nursing.