Southeast Technical College announces $10M in funding for new healthcare simulation center

Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read
A rendering of the front of the building that will house the new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.
A rendering of the front of the building that will house the new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.

Southeast Technical College announced plans Friday morning to expand its campus by creating a new healthcare simulation center.

STC President Bob Griggs said he expects this will expand the college's capacity and allow STC to graduate more students and fill the workforce pipeline in the region.

The new simulation center will be at 2329 N Career Ave., adjacent to the STC campus and the home of the former Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship.

Funding for the new center came in three gifts from Avera Health, Sanford Health and Forward Sioux Falls totaling $5.6 million, as well as a $4.5 million appropriation by the South Dakota legislature as outlined in Senate Bill 61, which was signed by Gov. Kristi Noem on Monday.

Noem said the new simulation center is a "real win" for the college, Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota, and will train future health care workers using "top-notch, industry relevant tools and technology.”

A rendering of a cardiovascular lab to be constructed at Southeast Technical College's new health care simulation center.
A rendering of a cardiovascular lab to be constructed at Southeast Technical College's new health care simulation center.

At Avera, the need for well-trained health care professionals only continues to grow, David Flicek, president and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, said in a press release.

"This new facility will undoubtedly help provide the space to train even more high-quality students from diverse backgrounds to ultimately serve our growing region,” Flicek said.

Paul Hanson, president of Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, said workforce development continues to be a priority for the hospital system, and that supporting the new center demonstrates continued commitment to peoples' needs.

A rendering of the interior hall of a new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.
A rendering of the interior hall of a new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.

“Yet again, our community and state leadership have demonstrated that we can create partnerships that align private and public funds to address a critical need within our community,” Hanson said in a press release.

Both Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, pointed to the importance of public and private partnerships like the new center.

A rendering of the rear of the building that will house the new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.
A rendering of the rear of the building that will house the new health care simulation center at Southeast Technical College.

TenHaken said the new facility will "help build a pipeline for healthcare talent in our region and help to meet the increasing workforce demand in our health sector."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Southeast Technical College plans $10M health care simulation center