Warner Robins, Ga – The Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) Foundation announced today that it has received a planning grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support the establishment of a regional STEM/Healthcare High School in Houston County. The planning will be undertaken through a partnership between the Houston County School District (HCSD), Houston Healthcare (HHC), and Central Georgia Technical College and is aimed at establishing career-connected learning opportunities to strengthen central Georgia’s healthcare workforce.
The grant will fund personnel and programming needs for the regional high school, and bolsters support already committed by local and state leaders. CGTC, HHC, the Houston County School District, the 21st Century Partnership, and other community organizations have been collaborating on this initiative with local, state, and federal elected officials since 2021, and the financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies will enable the initiative to move forward.
“We’re excited to receive this support to advance the allied health workforce throughout our region,” said Dr. Ivan H. Allen, CGTC’s president. “Our community is honored that Bloomberg Philanthropies has made this investment in our state. We are committed to doing the necessary hard work to facilitate new opportunities for secondary students that positively affect the workforce and our local communities for generations.”
The regional healthcare high school program will be an innovative educational approach focused on providing students with training and skills to pursue high-demand career opportunities within the local healthcare workforce. The intentional focus on allied health programming will increase interest in the career field and revolutionize the path from student to employee. The regional approach will allow students from multiple school districts to explore healthcare education throughout their high school careers. After enrolling in the STEM/Healthcare High School program, students will be able to work toward their college credential in programs such as ultrasound technology, respiratory technology, hemodialysis, cardiovascular technology, and radiologic technology, with paid internships. As a result, graduates will be prepared for high-skill, high-wage positions within healthcare organizations throughout middle Georgia.
This planning grant stems from a first-of-its-kind $250 million initiative launched in 2024 by Bloomberg Philanthropies that is connecting healthcare and education systems to create new high schools in 10 urban and rural communities across the country including: Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; Nashville, TN; Demopolis, AL and Northeast TN. This will be the first healthcare high school Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported in Georgia, and alliance members will visit existing sites to learn best practices and establish plans for the regional STEM/Healthcare high school.