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DeKalb Tech awarded $2M grant to train EMTs, paramedics
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DeKalb Technical College was recently awarded approximately $2 million in stimulus funds to train new emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

The U.S. Labor Department announced the awarding of $2,043,859 to DeKalb Tech over the next 36 months, as part of the federal effort to stimulate growth in the health care industry. The money will be used to fund unemployed, dislocated and incumbent workers to train as emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics.

In making the announcement, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis said, "The Recovery Act funded grants...will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in healthcare and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits." The awarding of the grant was made jointly by Secretary Solis and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-Ga.).

"DeKalb Technical College is well-positioned to train first-responders to meet the demand in the coming years, This Federal grant will provide funds for DeKalb Tech to expand its personnel and use hybrid technology to expand classes and reduce attrition rates," said Dr. Robin Hoffman, President of DeKalb Technical College.

The $2 million grant will train 250 EMTs and 30 Paramedics in the next three years - twice the current paramedic graduation rate at DeKalb Tech, and four times the current EMT graduation rate.

DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, has 8 centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties. For more information visit our website at www.dekalbtech.edu.