Lincoln Memorial University – College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) has been awarded $1 million by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support career-specific education for veterinary and veterinary technician students in Lee County, Virginia.
“We are extremely grateful for the funding provided by the ARC POWER grant,” said Dean Stacy Anderson. “This opportunity gives LMU-CVM a leg up in creating an educational environment for the future in the new Veterinary Education and Technology Building.”
This award is part of a recently announced $21 million package supporting 21 projects serving 211 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. POWER targets federal resources to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.
“I commend Lincoln Memorial University – College of Veterinary Medicine for innovating and collaborating to grow opportunities for people in their own community and neighboring communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Partners like Lincoln Memorial University – College of Veterinary Medicine are integral to making our POWER projects come to life, and I look forward to seeing the ways our Appalachian Region continues to grow, thanks to the impact of their work.”
Since POWER launched in 2015, ARC has invested nearly $316.6 million in 393 projects across 358 coal-impacted counties. The nearly $73 million awarded in 2021 is projected to create/retain over 10,383 jobs and attract nearly $527.3 million in leveraged private investments. LMU-CVM has graduated four classes of veterinary students, with roughly 20% taking jobs in the ARC region. Additionally, select students have opened veterinary businesses within the tobacco footprint.
The expansion will allow LMU-CVM, Veterinary Health Science (VHS), and Veterinary Medical Technology (VMT) programs to increase class size, faculty and staff; create new programs and, ultimately, serve as an expanding economic driver for the region. The ARC POWER funding will be used to outfit the building with technology and equipment integral for teaching the next generation of veterinary health professionals (pre-veterinary undergraduate students, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians). Site preparation began in spring 2021 and construction is expected to be complete summer 2023. The state-of-the-art facility will be ready for use by fall 2023.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia.
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University’s medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. For more information about LMU-CVM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7150 or visit us online at vetmed.LMUnet.edu.
