WILMINGTON — Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC) cut the ribbon on its new $22 million Allied Health Center at the downtown Wilmington Campus on Wednesday, opening its doors to new lab space and expanding into paramedic and surgical technology degree programs.
The renovated 75,000 square-foot center at DTCC’s Orlando J. George, Jr. Campus in Wilmington includes new classrooms, lab spaces, conference rooms and collaborative space. It’s also the second allied health facility to be opened this year following the reopening of the institution’s health care center at its Terry Campus in Dover.
The project at the George Campus was made possible through federal funding, including $15 million from the American Rescue Plan Act allocated by Gov. John Carney, as well as a small portion of funds from the state’s Bond Bill.
“The Allied Health Center of Excellence will enable Delaware Tech to help meet the demands of the healthcare sector in our state by providing high-quality teaching and learning spaces and convenient access to these critical programs in New Castle County,” DTCC President Mark Brainard said in a prepared statement.
Through its Allied Health program, DTCC has long since trained respiratory therapists and emergency medical technicians, working in Delaware hospitals, primary care and other health care facilities. The community college offers programs in dental hygiene, occupational therapy, physical therapy assistants and more. In particular, the expansion offers a new lab for up-and-coming medical assistants and histotechnicians.
DTCC has long been credited with offering education for Delawareans at various stages in life, whether they are just starting their careers or looking to break into a new field. As an example, the Allied Health program at the Wilmington campus has 555 students enrolled as of the Fall 2024 semester, paying an average tuition of $152.50 per credit hour.
The renovated centers in both Wilmington and Dover are also primed to help address the job growth on the horizon – the Delaware Department of Labor projects that the health care sector, along with social assistance, will have the most growth by 2032. The state is projecting 36,240 new jobs in the next decade and about one-third will be in health and social assistance, according to a 10-year projection report.
“We are grateful to Governor Carney, our Congressional delegation and the General Assembly for enabling the College to use American Rescue Plan funding to support this project, and we look forward to students starting courses in these programs in January,” Brainard said.
