Bloomfield College Awarded Federal Grant

Bloomfield College's nursing program is getting a shot in the arm, thanks to a federal grant.

Over the next four years, $2.4 million will be spent at the college on the nursing program and to promote student health, announced U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th District) last week.

The money will be used to expand the nursing program laboratory, and to promote healthier lifestyles among students, including combatting obesity. The grant is from the  U.S. Department of Education’s Predominately Black Institutions and Schools (PBI) program.

 "We are excited and gratified by this award to Bloomfield College under the PBI program.  The grant will enable us to create a new state of the art nursing education laboratory to help meet the region's critical nursing needs.  It will also create a Center for Health Information Literacy which will serve both students in fostering a healthy lifestyle and be part of Bloomfield College's outreach to extend benefits to citizens in the surrounding community," said Bloomfield College President Richard Levao.

The first portion of the grant is for $600,000 and is awarded from October 2011 to September 2012.

 “Bloomfield College has an impeccable program for educating health care professionals, including nurses.  Focusing on preparing students for the critical health care job market is just one of the many reasons the federal government has provided resources to Bloomfield College year after year," said Pascrell, a former educator.

Pascrell's district represents communities in Passaic and Essex County, including Bloomfield.

According to Pascrell's office, the PBI program makes grant awards to eligible institutions to plan, develop, undertake and implement programs to enhance the institutions capacity to serve more low- and middle-income Black American students.

It is also aimed at expanding higher education opportunities for eligible students by encouraging college preparation and student persistence in secondary school and postsecondary education; as well as strengthening the financial ability of the institution to serve the academic needs of these students.