Area officials joined school faculty and staff at the South Lake Campus of Lake-Sumter State College on Tuesday to mark a new beginning for health education in Clermont.
The college broke ground on a 51,000 square-foot Science-Health Building, which will greatly expand facilities aimed at training aspiring health professionals. Expected to be completed in 2017, the building will provide classroom and lab space for biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, anatomy, physiology and health sciences.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2016
Bob Thomas, of the Leo Daley planning firm, said it will be a state-of-the-art facility and include new nursing simulation facilities.
LSSC President Dr. Charles Mojock said the project was long planned. Matching funds were sought in 2007, but the recession dried up much of those resources. But with new help from local partners and the state legislature, work is finally beginning.
“Community support has been a major factor,” Mojock said. “The $9 million in funding provided by the state of Florida, combined with $1 million from South Lake Hospital, $1 million from the LSSC Foundation and $600,000 from LSSC board reserves, will fund the construction.”
South Lake Hospital President John Moore said the school will help drive the local economy and give students expanded access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers, especially at the hospital.
“This is a key element of our workforce strategy,” Moore said. “Students will have the opportunity to remain in the community.”