Cox College, OTC share in $1M statewide grants

Cox College and Ozarks Technical Community College are among seven schools statewide to share $1 million in grants to support nursing education.

The Missouri State Board of Nursing approved $149,978 in funding for Cox for fiscal 2012, while OTC is receiving $150,000, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Gov. Jay Nixon visited the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Nursing Dec. 9 to make the announcement. That college is receiving $149,996.

The grants, made available through Nixon's Caring for Missourians Initiative, will provide $1 million in grants for public and private colleges and universities in fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Each year, schools will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $150,000. Funding for the grants is generated by revenue from nursing license fees collected by the State Board of Nursing, the release said.

Funding can be used to hire additional faculty, purchase equipment or offer scholarships.

“A nursing education is a direct pathway to a rewarding and lifelong career, but for too long, too many students have been turned away from nursing education programs because they were at full capacity,” Nixon said in the release. “As our economy begins to move forward, health care will continue to be a growing industry in our state.  

"These grants will help our nursing schools educate more students and connect them with good jobs in every corner of Missouri.”

Recipients of the grant funding were selected based on competitive applications reviewing by the State Board of Nursing. The other recipients are:

• Mineral Area College (Park Hills), $149,950;
• University of Missouri-Columbia, $149,950;
• University of Missouri-Kansas City, $83,596; and
• William Jewell College (Liberty), $149,750.

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