SPRINGFIELD – South Suburban Community College is receiving $35.8 million from the Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan to build a new allied health facility.

The new four-story facility will be approximately 130,000 square feet. It will provide the college with a cutting-edge teaching facility to train students for health care careers. The estimated cost for the project is roughly $70 million, with nearly $17 million in state funding already released and the remaining funding being provided locally.

“I’m thrilled to see Illinois investing into a state-of-the-art teaching facility in the south suburbs,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey). “This new facility will provide better job opportunities and bring more resources to students who want a career in the medical industry.”

An average of 24 percent of students at South Suburban Community College choose careers in nursing and allied professions. This new facility will help meet growing student demand for health-related education and training.

The facility will provide training for health care careers such as registered nurses and nursing assistants, community health workers, emergency medical technicians, radiologists, echocardiography technicians, occupational therapy assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, medical assistants, and medical records and coding specialists.

The facility will also provide space for new career programs, including dental hygienist, respiratory technician, physical therapy assistant, and patient care technician. In addition, it will serve as a community health center and child care center.