BRCC receives $12 million investment from Our Lady of the Lake for new building, program expansion, and healthcare initiatives

February 25, 2022

BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, Our Lady of Lake announced a partnership and $12 million investment in Baton Rouge Community College. The investment will help support the construction and development of the college’s new Nursing and Allied Health building and the renovation of a section of the college’s Bonne Sante’ Wellness Center to focus on sports medicine and training. The new facility will bring together BRCC’s School of Nursing and Division of Allied Health under one roof, and will house the college’s current programs in Nursing, Sonography, Surgical Technician and Medical Assistant. Additionally, it will allow the College to add high-demand programs in Respiratory Care, Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Athletic Training.

“We are extremely grateful for this investment and commitment by Our Lady of the Lake,” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “This investment will impact not only our students and Nursing and Allied Health programs, but it will also have a significant impact in our community as we are able to provide more high-demand training opportunities and equip and educate more healthcare professionals in this region. This will truly be a game changer for our community.”

“We’re incredibly blessed to serve our community and we could not be prouder to partner with Baton Rouge Community College to educate and retain the next generation of healthcare workers,” shared Scott Wester, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, EVP of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships. “Across the nation, healthcare worker shortages plague hospitals and clinics. Our Lady of the Lake is committed to the people of Baton Rouge and the people of Louisiana. We will work together to find innovative solutions for Baton Rouge, ensuring the current and next generations of healthcare providers have the resources needed and adequate support to be successful.”

“We are proud to be in partnership with BRCC to expand nursing and allied health education,” shared LaTina Schaffer, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, VP of Talent Strategy. “This investment will allow us to continue addressing the health and welfare of our communities that we are privileged to serve and leading the way in healthcare.”

BRCC’s new 95,000-square-foot Nursing and Allied Health building will be constructed on the Mid City Campus and will be named after Our Lady of the Lake. The state-of-the-art facility will be one part of the solution to help fill high-demand jobs in the healthcare industry with quality, well-trained medical personnel. BRCC expects to break ground on the new facility this summer. The building is slated to open in 2023 and will have the capacity to serve 1,200 students.

“Our Lady of the Lake’s investment in Baton Rouge Community College is a true testament to the power of partnership within Baton Rouge. This collaboration is not only investing in BRCC, it is investing in our residents by creating new pathways to success for our students,” said Mayor Broome. “This investment is preparing our students for quality jobs and equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to provide quality care to the entirety of our community. I look forward to seeing the results of this partnership and the prosperity it will bring to East Baton Rouge Parish.”

“This investment from Our Lady of the Lake supports the Foundation’s mission of assisting the College in meeting the educational and workforce needs of the 21st century,” said BRCC Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the BRCC Foundation Philip L. Smith, Jr. “Additionally, we believe this partnership will not only impact our students, but serves regional businesses and our local healthcare industry, and will provide an improved quality of life for the members of our community.”

For the past 15 years, BRCC’s Division of Nursing and Allied Health has provided stellar education for students seeking meaningful, rewarding careers as healthcare professionals. BRCC offers 16 different healthcare certificates and associate degree programs, including the continuing education division of healthcare programs.

With the support of Our Lady of the Lake, BRCC will be able to expand its current Nursing and Allied Health program offerings to more students. The partnership will also serve as a catalyst for the development of a new Sports Medicine Training program at the college. The new facility will have both a larger capacity and a more significant presence in Baton Rouge. The Nursing program will move from the BRCC Frazier Site and will now be located on BRCC’s Mid City campus, with the building facing north on Florida Boulevard, which is currently undergoing a $48 million development by East Baton Rouge Parish.

The Nursing and Allied Health building is the first new classroom on BRCC’s Mid City Campus since 2009. The facility will provide thousands of highly skilled nursing and allied health professionals to the Capital region.

The new Nursing and Allied Health building will include:

• 95,000 total square feet
• Capacity for 1,200 students, including nearly 500 nursing students
• State-of-the-art labs and modern classrooms
• Simulated hospital to ensure facilitated collaboration
• Increased capacity for patients and annual clinical rotations
• Faculty and staff administrative spaces for student and academic support
• Large open gym

For more information about BRCC’s Nursing and Allied Health division, visit mybrcc.edu.

Kizzy Payton, Chief Public Relations and Marketing Officer 
paytonk2@mybrcc.edu(225) 216-8404