UNCW Receives Grant Funding for Groundbreaking Healthcare Workforce Partnerships

The New Hanover Community Endowment announced on Dec. 18 grants totaling more than $22.3 million awarded to Cape Fear Community College, New Hanover County Schools, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. This transformative partnership, bolstered by grant funding, aims to address critical workforce challenges in New Hanover County, focusing on the recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare professionals committed to serving our communities.

The collaborative effort focuses on key areas of investment:

• Support for Success: Providing wrap-around services, recruitment, and enrollment resources, alongside retention structures to foster student achievement.

• Enhanced Infrastructure: Improving facilities, implementing holistic admissions processes, and reinforcing recruitment resources to strengthen educational foundations.

• Pathway Programs: Developing and expanding pathway and pipeline initiatives aimed at guiding aspiring healthcare professionals.

• Innovative Learning: Collaborating on simulated learning, healthcare professional cohort programs, and standardized exam study assistance across institutions.

"This is exactly the kind of thing that we want to invest in. We believe no change happens without collaboration," emphasized William Buster, president and CEO of the New Hanover Community Endowment. "Ultimately, and with these strategic partners, we believe that there's going to be substantive change in our community. Now, we understand that this is more than just about funding for opportunities around jobs. We're excited, especially because this is about maintaining and keeping homegrown talent. We're looking forward to having folks who live here work here and have the opportunity to stay here and work in the field that they choose, like healthcare and nursing."

Reflecting on the significance of the initiative, which included more than $10.2 million in support for UNCW, Chancellor Aswani K. Volety highlighted, "The three words you're going to hear over and over again today are partnership, collaboration, and problem-solving. With a visionary approach to philanthropy, the NHCE grants empower UNCW, CFCC, New Hanover County Schools and the Chamber of Commerce to set new standards for healthcare workforce development and expand efforts to transform lives in our area.”

Cape Fear Community College President Jim Morton added, “I believe this level of partnership is unparalleled nationwide and I hope this serves as a source of inspiration for other communities working to reshape the healthcare careers landscape."

New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Charles Foust emphasized, "This goes along with our strategic planning goals to increase the percentage of Career and Technical Education programs of study by 40% through the implementation of CTE pathways.”

Novant Health Coastal region Chief Nursing Officer, Amy Akers, announced Novant Health is committing $10 million to boost the number of trained healthcare workers locally. "When one of us or someone we care about needs care at a doctor’s office, a nursing home, in a community or educational setting, or a hospital – we rely on trusted clinicians to provide the care we need,” Akers said. “Our commitment – and the work of these partnering organizations in this room – is designed to ensure help will be there today – and in the years to come."

Natalie English, President and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, affirmed, " The Wilmington Chamber is playing a pivotal role in uniting these diverse stakeholders and breaking down some historically isolated work environments. In Wilmington, our focus remains on empowering business growth, facilitating access to essential talent, and actively nurturing our community's skill sets to prepare citizens for fulfilling employment opportunities in our region’s high growth sectors.”

The success of this collaborative initiative hinges on educating and supporting a healthcare workforce that mirrors and effectively serves the needs of New Hanover County.