Bolivar health system, college to build $5.3M facility

Citizens Memorial Healthcare and Bolivar Technical College have partnered to build a $5.3 million education services center on the hospital's campus.

The 28,281-square-foot building would ease the space constraints of BTC, which currently operates a 9,000-square-foot Bolivar facility, 2001 W. Broadway St., that has reached building capacity, according to a news release.

The new facility would allow the school to expand classes and offer nursing program enrollment every fall semester, rather than every other year as current space allows. The school offers training programs for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, medical administrative assistants, medical assistants and medical laboratory technologists.

“The real benefit to partnering with Bolivar Technical College is the ability to educate more of the local residents,” CMH CEO Donald Babb said in the release. “The economic development impact of training local residents is significant. The majority of the college graduates become employed at CMH. We still need more nurses and other health care providers.”

The new facility also would house the CMH education department and two community rooms. Construction is slated to begin this summer.