Bronx Community College (BCC) welcomed Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and New York City Council Members Amanda Farías, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Eric Dinowitz, Kevin Riley, Shirley Adebol and Justin Sanchez to campus yesterday afternoon for a ceremonial check presentation celebrating a $6 million capital investment to expand and modernize the College’s Nursing and Allied Health Sciences facilities.
The funding includes $3 million in City capital funding, presented by Borough President Gibson and the Bronx Delegation of the New York City Council, matched by $3 million from New York State. The investment will support the development of a state-of-the-art Allied Health Sciences HUB in Carl Polowczyk Hall, strengthening BCC’s capacity to prepare students for careers in some of New York City’s most in-demand healthcare fields.
“Today’s announcement is a prime example of what we can achieve when multiple levels of government come together for a common goal to support our scholars and educators,” Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said. “This combined $6 million City and State investment in Bronx Community College’s Nursing and Allied Health Sciences facilities ensures our nursing students have a physical space that is conducive to learning and spaces for students to study, socialize with their peers, and engage with state-of-the-art equipment that will prepare them for a career in the healthcare industry. Thank you to my colleagues in the New York City Council’s Bronx Delegation for their partnership in supporting this important project.”
BCC President Dr. Larry D. Johnson, Jr. said, “As healthcare providers across New York City face growing workforce shortages, Bronx Community College is preparing the skilled professionals our communities need. With the support of our government partners, we are expanding opportunities for our students while strengthening the future of healthcare in the Bronx.”
The project will renovate more than 20,000 square feet across the third and fourth floors of Carl Polowczyk Hall, expanding usable program space by more than 8,500 square feet. Planned improvements include modern instructional laboratories, clinical simulation spaces, advanced healthcare equipment, smart classrooms, private patient observation rooms and student gathering areas.
Healthcare is the borough’s largest employment sector, currently employing approximately 65,800 workers, with that number projected to exceed 80,000 by 2030. Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers continue to face shortages of qualified professionals in nursing, radiologic technology, laboratory sciences and related fields.
“Bronx Community College plays a vital role in preparing Bronx residents for careers in healthcare, providing the education, hands-on training, and professional credentials needed to succeed in some of New York’s most essential and in-demand professions,” New York City Council Member and Co-Chair of the Bronx Delegation Amanda Farías said. “I strongly advocated for this $1 million capital investment because BCC has already demonstrated its ability to prepare students for these careers through its academic programs and partnerships with leading healthcare institutions. Our responsibility is to ensure the college has the facilities and resources to meet growing demand.”
“Bronx Community College is one of the nation’s leading engines of economic mobility, ranked among the top ten two-year colleges for helping students from working-class families build better futures,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “I am proud to have helped secure $6 million for BCC’s Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Program, alongside the NYC Council’s Bronx Delegation, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and our State colleagues. From modern clinical equipment and patient observation rooms to accessibility improvements and upgraded heating and cooling systems at Carl Polowczyk Hall, these investments will give Bronx students the training facilities they deserve as they prepare to become the nurses and healthcare professionals our city needs.”
Council Member Justin E. Sanchez added, “In the Bronx, we look out for one another, we listen to each other, and we get things done by working with each other. As Co-Chair of the Bronx Delegation, I’m proud to help bring our partners at every level of government together to deliver for our borough. Every dollar of this investment will go back into our community and give today’s students the tools they need to succeed and take part in building a workforce that makes our community healthier and stronger.”
More than 1,070 students are currently enrolled in BCC’s Nursing and Allied Health Sciences programs, including Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Office Assistant programs. Through clinical partnerships with leading healthcare institutions, including Montefiore Medical Center, Jacobi Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them to enter the workforce.
The celebration included a tour of the fourth floor of Carl Polowczyk Hall, where elected officials viewed architectural renderings of the planned improvements and met with BCC faculty and students. Nursing and Allied Health Sciences students in uniform joined College leaders and elected officials for the check presentation.
The project reflects BCC’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening workforce partnerships and advancing the goals of Bronx Renaissance 2031, the College’s five-year strategic plan.
About Bronx Community College
The Bronx Community College (BCC) is home to more than 40 academic programs that will prepare you to continue your education at a four-year institution or begin your career. In addition to our high-quality academic programs, we offer you the opportunity to learn from our outstanding faculty, create flexible class schedules and grow with the support of our academic community. A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), we enroll students from nearly 100 countries. Our campus is also home to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the country’s first hall of fame. In October 2012, our campus was declared a National Historic Landmark, becoming the country’s first community college campus to receive such a designation.
