OTC and Community Foundation of the Ozarks announce $50,000 challenge grant

Ozarks Technical Community College and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks announce a new $50,000 challenge grant initiative to support OTC’s Allied Health Clinical Simulation Center, a 2,000 square-foot, multi-disciplinary high-fidelity simulation lab that provides training for students in 12 programs at OTC, as well as for a variety of healthcare professionals already in the workforce.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks will match $1 for every dollar raised by the OTC Foundation, up to $25,000, by June 30, 2013.  The OTC Foundation will use the challenge grant funds for equipment and software for its Clinical Simulation Center.  Along with the academic uses, the Clinical Simulation Center has been used in regular workshops for emergency technicians from Cox Hospitals, and in training exercises for the Missouri Army National Guard.

The CFO initiated this new challenge grant as part of the 2012 Springfield Metropolitan Grantmaking Program in response to its emphasis on addressing high-priority community needs – or “red flags” – identified in the Community Focus Reports for Springfield and Greene County.

Since 2004, the Community Focus Reports have noted local income and wage issues as “red flags.” Stalled job growth, regional unemployment and funding challenges for OTC have been cited as emerging issues for the community.  The Community Focus Reports are available at:  www.springfieldcommunityfocus.org.

“Although Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) plays a critical role in training and retraining regional employees to meet employers’ needs, it continues to face major funding challenges,” the 2009 report stated.  “OTC has the third highest enrollment of any community college in the state, yet ranks last in state funding.”

“We are excited to once again partner with the Community Foundation on a challenge grant to benefit our growing Simulation Center,” said Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College.  “The funds from this grant will help us to continue providing the technologically advanced medical training that the community has come to expect from OTC.”

For more information on making fully tax-deductible contributions to the OTC Simulation Challenge Grant, contact the OTC Foundation at (417) 447-2651 or browns@otc.edu.