Butler County Community College affirmed its commitment to its nursing program Friday by approving the issuance of $9 million in bonds for construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building.

BC3 President Nick Neupauer declared the college is “all in for nursing” before asking the board of trustees to approve the request for the State Public School Building Authority to issue the college revenue bonds.

The trustees unanimously voted to approve the request for the bonds that will help finance the construction of the building, which will house the current nursing program and a new licensed practical nursing program being developed, and other construction on the south side of the main campus in Butler Township.

The county commissioners authorized BC3 to pursue the financing Wednesday.

BC3 is providing $9 million toward the project, using $4 million in donations raised by the BC3 Education Foundation, $2 million from the college's fund balance and a $3 million bank loan it will borrow in the next month or two, said Jim Hrabosky, BC3's vice president of administration and finance.

The interest rate on the bonds will be between 2.4% and 2.6% and the term is 20 years. The term on the bank loan will be 10 to 15 years, Hrabosky said.

Proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be deposited into the project construction account. The money will be available in April, he said.

The two-phase $18 million project on six acres on the south side of the campus bordering Old Plank Road is underway. Construction of a 10,000-square-foot operations building is about 60% complete. That building will replace a maintenance building that will be demolished over the summer, clearing the way for construction of the 24,000 square foot nursing building to begin. The building is expected to open in 2023.

The new state-of-the-art nursing building will feature simulation and skills labs, and a tiered classroom with 80 seats that nearly encircle the instructor's teaching area.

Construction of a quarter-mile connector road from Old Plank Road to College Drive is part of the project.

The building will allow BC3 to expand enrollment in its existing nursing program and add an LPN program. It supports its collaborative nursing programs with Grove City College and Concordia Lutheran Services.

The LPN program is expected to debut in fall 2021 or spring 2022.

The program with Grove City College allows its sophomore and junior nursing students to obtain 41 credits in technical and clinical courses at BC3 while also taking classes at Grove City.

Through a 10-year commitment from Concordia Lutheran Ministries, BC3 is creating the LPN program, expanding its registered nursing program and offering tuition assistance to students who agree to work for Concordia after graduation.