The Fayette County Career & Technical Institute celebrated the first steps in its pursuit to bolster the drastic shortage of health care workers across the country with a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 6,000 square foot Health Science Center.

“After the pandemic there has become a dire need for health care workers,” CTI Executive Director Cynthia Shaw said during Thursday’s ceremony. “And it was time we stepped up to the plate – and we’re going to make it happen.”

The new center, which is scheduled to be finished in March 2025, comes at a time when health care workers in the state are reaching an all-time low. A recent study from the Hospital and Health system of Pennsylvania projected a deficit of more than 277,711 health care workers such as medical assistants, home health aides and nursing assistants by 2026.

Shaw, who has been the school’s executive director since 2017, said in keeping with CIT’s mission of making sure students are prepared for the future, the new building will include a large simulation lab, an anatomy lab and spaces for medical assisting, surgical tech and other short-term programs.

“This facility is going to impact our community in a positive way by providing affordable training and education for our residents,” she said.

And while the school has plans to offer new classes such as an anatomy lab, Shaw said the school’s future curriculum remains flexible for future vocational needs.

Commissioner Vincent Vicites reiterated the importance of health care workers in the area and spoke on the potential economic impact the Health Science Center would have in the county.

“We’ve become a regional hub for health care here in Fayette County with so many entities coming in with a need for workers,” he said. “I knew this was going to be a great project.”

State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, R-Smithfield, also spoke on the importance of filling the demand for the growing health care system.

“The facility will ensure that our students receive the education and training they need to excel in their career and will make a meaningful impact on the lives of every person they touch,” she said, “Graduates from this program with be able to serve in our local hospitals, our local clinics and our local health care facilities.”

Rob Sleighter, president of Sleighter Engineering which designed the building, said the center would include three classrooms, three labs and mechanical and circulation spaces. The center will also have areas outside the building such as an outdoor plaza to encourage students to work outside during warmer weather.

Health and science students will not be the only ones benefiting from the new center. With the LPN program moving to the new building, the vacant space will be used to host a day care center, said Shaw.

“It’s going be a child care program to teach students how to care for children,” Shaw said. “But as part of that we’ll have a care center that will allow students to drop their kids off.”