On Tuesday, Concordia Lutheran Ministries donated $1 million to the Butler County Community College Education Foundation to help fund the proposed nursing and health building on the college’s main campus in Butler and cement a partnership in which Concordia could provide up to $10 million to the college.

The largest commitment to BC3 in the college’s 55-year-history also launches a collaboration that will respond to a nursing shortage by creating a licensed practical nursing program at the college, expanding BC3’s registered nursing enrollment and offering tuition assistance to nursing students who agree to work for the health care provider after graduation.

The 10-year commitment includes Concordia’s initial $1 million gift, which will help fund the proposed Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building.

“This dynamic collaboration will not only assist Concordia with more qualified healthcare professionals, it will also help our county, region, commonwealth and beyond with more nurses,” said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president.

The Cabot-based organization has 13 facility-based locations in Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties. It also serves thousands of people in their homes in 10 Western Pennsylvania counties through its home and community service organizations.

Concordia’s continuum of care includes adult day services, home care, hospice, medical and rehabilitation services, memory care, personal care, assisted living, respite care, retirement living, skilled nursing and short-term rehab, spiritual care and medical equipment.

Concordia employs 700 nurses, but has approximately 60 nursing vacancies at any given time, officials said.

The partnership between the college and Concordia will provide needed, properly trained caregivers.

“The nursing shortage in this country is a real challenge for providers, but for Concordia specifically, we are a rapidly growing organization, which means we have an even greater need in terms of overall numbers,” said Keith Frndak, president and CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

The health care provider will give up to $550,000 annually towards tuition assistance for students in the nursing program contracted to work for Concordia and up to $350,000 to BC3 to go towards operating costs, such as financing salaries of additional BC3 staff hired to administer the programs.

Students will receive tuition assistance and contract agreements to work for Concordia after graduation based on the nursing program they complete — either in registered nursing or licensed practical nursing.

BC3’s licensed practical nursing program could debut in fall 2021 or spring 2022, said Patty Annear, dean of BC3’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.

The program could feature up to 45 credits, and might include 28 credits that could be applied toward the college’s 70-credit associate in applied science degree in registered nursing, Annear said.

Each of the first 20 seats available could be held by Concordia employees seeking a licensed practical nursing diploma or by BC3 or high school students who work for Concordia after graduation.

And, Annear pointed out, BC3’s registered nursing program enrollment could expand further as early as this fall with Concordia licensed practical nurses attracted by their employer’s offer and seeking admission to BC3 as advanced-standing applicants.

Bill Foley is the coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.