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Center For Health Care Training To Open In White Plains

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Leaders from dozens of regional hospitals, universities and business groups announced a strategic plan Tuesday for training thousands of biotech and health care workers.

Westchester County Association Chairman William Harrington speaks at Tuesday's news conference, with WCA President Marissa Brett, right, and college and hospital leaders.

Westchester County Association Chairman William Harrington speaks at Tuesday's news conference, with WCA President Marissa Brett, right, and college and hospital leaders.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig

Westchester County Association Chairman William P. Harrington said WCA will compete for a $10 million federal Ready to Work Partnership grant while launching a pilot course next month on health care analytics.

The five-week course, aimed at filling vacancies in skilled medical care, will be at a new Hudson Valley Workforce Academy, 1133 Westchester Ave., White Plains, starting Tuesday, Feb. 24. The fee is $595, and registration will be available at www.Westchester.org.

Ten years of strategic work also has culminated in a memorandum of understanding with hospitals and universities throughout a five-county region to work on common goals, including job training, according to Harrington.

In this region, there are more than 2,500 vacant, skilled jobs in health care, technology and business. 

“The health care sector is the Hudson Valley’s largest economic engine, contributing more than $15 billion (annually) to the regional economy,” he said.

It is the WCA Hudson Valley Healthcare Consortium's aim to help the region attract and retain talent, upgrade the skills of the currently employed and foster job creation for the unemployed and underemployed, Harrington said.

The consortium includes providers in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Orange counties. To date, 15 regional health care providers plus the Suburban Hospital Alliance, composed of over 50 hospitals on Long Island and the Hudson Valley, have signed on.

The federal Ready to Work grant would pay for intensive training for 425 people unemployed for at least 26 weeks, as well as another 75 people seeking to improve their skills. Targeted professions include registered nurses, medical coders, radiologic and MRI technicians.

A full roster of course offerings in collaboration with the region’s 16 colleges and universities will be announced soon.

Tuesday's announcement drew praise from Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Westchester-Rockland, and a variety of health care CEOs and college presidents.

For more details, go to www.blueprintforwestchester.com

 

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