City Workforce Grants Help Train Nearly 200 Healthcare Professionals
Published on February 26, 2025
97 graduates secure jobs in Lincoln, strengthening local healthcare
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and healthcare partners today said the City’s strategic investment of American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) has helped address and reduce staffing shortages in the healthcare industry by providing nursing scholarships and certified nursing assistant and phlebotomist trainings and certifications.
“Our workforce grant to the Bryan Foundation is helping more of our community members access job training and high-wage careers that help them afford the good life,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “At the same time, this workforce investment helps ensure that, when our loved ones need care, there are skilled professionals ready to provide that care – filling critical gaps in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities across our community.”
Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the Workforce Week news conference were Bennie Shobe, City Council member; Dr. Theresa Delahoyde, Dean of Undergraduate Nursing at Bryan College of Health Sciences; Holly Chandler, Bryan Health Simulation Center Director; and Kelanna Lovell, a nurse who received training through the workforce program.
The third Workforce Week event focused on the City’s work to address the shortage in healthcare professionals in Lincoln and Lancaster County. The City awarded an $1.1 million ARPA Workforce Development Grant to the Bryan Foundation in 2022 to provide scholarships for nursing students and to credential community members with Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy certificates.
Since receiving the grant, Bryan College of Health Sciences has provided scholarships and training to 192 students, strengthening the local healthcare workforce. With a 90% graduation rate, the program has resulted in 97 graduates securing jobs in Lincoln, helping to fill critical staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
The grant has directly supported:
- 50 nursing school graduates, with 18 more set to graduate in May
- 59 certified phlebotomists, increasing capacity for medical testing
- 43 certified nursing assistants, expanding frontline patient care
Delahoyde said that by supporting those who are passionate about helping others, the workforce grant addressed significant shortages in healthcare professionals statewide.
“This workforce grant provided the means for students to complete their education and the opportunity for them to move directly into the healthcare workforce to serve the public. This financial support made all the difference for each one of these students,” Delahoyde said.
Chandler said the healthcare simulation equipment and training made possible through ARPA funds ensures that healthcare professionals are not only knowledgeable, but also confident and competent in applying their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
“This training leads to better-prepared teams, fewer mistakes, and ultimately, better care for patients. The grant is allowing us to improve patient outcomes, decrease errors, increase knowledge and confidence in providers, save lives, and make healthcare safer for everyone,” Chandler said.
Lovell said the ARPA scholarship alleviated financial pressure during the pandemic allowing her to focus on her academic and career goals.
“I chose nursing because it offers a unique opportunity to care for individuals and their families during their most vulnerable moments and contribute to the overall health of my community,” Lovell said. “Nursing is more than just a career choice; it’s a calling that allows me to make a tangible difference in people's lives.”
Shobe called scholarships to train health professionals “a good investment for everyone in our community.”
“The City’s workforce development investments support the financial health of our community members. These investments go even further by helping train the healthcare professionals who literally nurse us back to health,” Shobe said.
Wednesday’s news conference was the third in a series of four Workforce Week events February 24 through 27. Each day Mayor Gaylor Baird will highlight how the City’s workforce investments are delivering results that support residents’ financial security, make life more affordable, and create economic opportunity into the future.
Visit lincoln.ne.gov/WorkDevProgram for more information on nine workforce development grants.