Hazard Community and Technical College awarded a $2.25 million grant

Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) announced on Thursday it was awarded a $2.25 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program.

The program strengthens institutions that primarily serve low-income communities. Each of HCTC’s service counties, (Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, Owsley, Perry, Wolfe) are in that category as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission and at least 75% of students receive federal financial aid.

HCTC’s project will build capacity within its Retention Services and Sponsored Projects offices through additional personnel, professional development, retention and outreach promotion and the expansion of its Success Zone to its Technical and Lees College Campuses.

“This grant will allow HCTC to become an even stronger educational institution and employer,” said HCTC President/CEO Dr. Jennifer Lindon. “Additionally, we will be able to expand our capacity to help meet our students’ needs. The opportunities for growth are limitless,” she added.

The expansion of Retention Services will focus on improving course completion, retention and graduation rates. The expansion of the Sponsored Project Office will focus on increasing the number of private foundation dollars and the number of HCTC faculty and staff who can manage sponsored projects.

The following jobs will be created from the grant: Retention Coordinator, Marketing/Media Specialist, Director of Grants and Contracts, Grants Manager and Grants Data Analyst. One more job will be added, but that role is still being determined by the college president.

The grant is payable over five years beginning October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2028.