CONTACT:
Brian Baluta
Director of Communications and Partner Relations
(321) 638-2000
BBaluta@SpaceCoastEDC.org

EDC secures health care training grant for METCA from Sutton Properties of Melbourne

$25,000 grant awarded to METCA to support RN
training cost for lower-income and minority students.

SPACE COAST, Fla. (August 14, 2020) –The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) has secured a health care training grant of $25,000 from Sutton Properties of Melbourne for the Macedonia Education Technology and Career Academy program (METCA) of the Elderly Compassionate Care Program of Brevard County. METCA is housed under the Macedonia Community Development Corporation of South Brevard, a nonprofit 501C (3).

The Elderly Compassionate Career Program, METCA was established in 2017 to assist lower-income and minority health care students of the Space Coast with obtaining scholarship funds for training in the career fields of Home Health Aid (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), LPN transition to Registered Nurse (RN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs. In addition, METCA provides enrollment preparatory courses, mentoring and supportive resources to scholarship students to ensure their successful completion of training and eventual job placement in health care careers.

“By 2030, there will be a predicted shortage of 150,000 healthcare workers in the U.S.,” said EDC President and CEO Lynda L. Weatherman. “The need to recruit, train and foster upcoming talent in this critical field is essential now more than ever, and I want to thank EDC investor Sutton Properties for stepping up to meet the challenge.”

 “METCA, Elderly Compassionate Care Program is designed to help disadvantaged men and women navigate the pathway to becoming health care professionals.  We primarily assist qualified student candidates with accessing scholarship funding, which is often their biggest barrier and provide pre-enrollment tools to help make them competitive,” said Founder and Executive Director of METCA, Teri Jones. “We need more health care professionals to care for our Brevard County residents, and the funding support begins with donors.  We are grateful to those who choose to become a partner and or donor, because you are the foundation for the success of METCA .”

 “I had the pleasure of being gifted this amazing opportunity. The METCA program that Teri Jones coordinated allowed me to further my education and help my family.  It gave me the skills to be successful in life and something to be proud of. Not only did METCA give me those skills, but it also gave me a means in which to obtain those skills.  I would not have been able to afford college if METCA did not come through and take a chance on my desire to help people,” said LPN graduate Adale VanPelt.

 “My goal was to be a Nurse for a long time, but financially it was not possible to pursue that career.  METCA provided me with the opportunity to fulfill my goals by assisting me with paying for my testing, and schooling. My life has been greatly improved financially, and economically,” said LPN graduate Cassandra Jackson.

To learn more about METCA, visit www.METCAecc.org.

###

About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high-tech companies. The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

 About Elderly Compassionate Care, Macedonia Education Technology and Career Academy (METCA)
The Elderly Compassionate Care, Macedonia Education Technology and Career Academy program is part of a nonprofit, community resource designed to help disadvantaged men and women navigate the pathway to becoming nurses with entry level healthcare training in Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), LPN to Registered Nursing (RN) and Associate Degree Nursing (AND) career fields.  Upon completion of training and certification, students receive job placement assistance.  Learn more at www.METCAecc.org.

 About Sutton Properties
The Sutton Properties name has been associated with successful real estate development in Florida for over fifty years. Company achievements include over 2 million square feet of industrial, commercial and residential space, and an experienced management team maintaining our promise of quality. Learn more at www.SuttonFL.com.