Greater Long Island
Suffolk County Community College just landed the biggest grant in its history — nearly $1 million a year for five years — to send more nurses and healthcare workers into the field for Long Island’s strained medical workforce.
The $4.98 million award comes from the New York State Department of Health’s Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program (HELP) and will kick in January 2026.
The funds will help cover tuition for students in Suffolk’s registered nursing, practical nursing, clinical medical assistant and certified nursing assistant programs. Tuition support for students is expected to roll out beginning in fall 2026…
…A report last year from the Center for Health Workforce Studies found that workforce shortages are the leading cause of recruitment difficulties in hospitals, with non-competitive salaries also a major barrier.