CaroMont Health hosted a roundtable discussion on Thursday, February 25
about the Connect NC Bond, a $2 billion bond package that, if passed,
will provide much-needed funding for a number of needs throughout North
Carolina. Citizens across the state will have an opportunity to vote on
the bond referendum in the primary election on March 15, 2016.
If passed, the bond money will go to support several economic development
projects in Gaston County, as well as health and science programs at Gaston
College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This funding
will ensure nursing students at both schools continue to have access to
high quality education and the necessary training through their partnership
with CaroMont. Moreover, CaroMont will continue to reap the benefits of
a highly skilled workforce.
“CaroMont employs more than 1,200 nurses,” said Doug Luckett,
President and CEO at CaroMont Health. “Our partnership with both
Gaston College and UNC Charlotte means that we will continue to have top-notch
employees available to our patients and that they can remain in their
community for their education and employment.”
Of the nearly 150 nursing students enrolled each year at Gaston College,
more than half come to CaroMont to complete their clinical training. Trish
Goble MSN, RN-BC first came to CaroMont in 2006 as a nursing student from
Gaston College. After completing her clinical training and earning her
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Goble officially joined the CaroMont
family in 2008 on the 6-North unit at CaroMont Regional Medical Center.
Soon after, Goble enrolled in UNC Charlotte’s undergraduate program
to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Goble later went on
to earn her Masters and will graduate this May with her Doctorate in Nursing
from UNC Charlotte.
“One of the happiest days of my life was when I became a nurse,”
said Trish Goble MSN, RN-BC. “The quality of education I received
at both schools is immeasurable and the relationships I have made along
the way have opened so many doors of opportunity.”
When asked why she thought the bond was important to Gaston County, Goble
shared that having access to education locally allowed her to pursue her
dream and receive high quality education and advance her career, all while
raising her family.
Thursday’s forum brought together key leaders from the immediate
and surrounding communities including: Senator Kathy Harrington, Co-Chair
of the NC Senate Appropriations Committee; Phillip L. Dubois, Chancellor,
UNC Charlotte; Cynthia McCrory, Vice President of Finance, Business and
Facilities, Gaston College; Nan Fey-Yensen, Dean, College of Health and
Human Services, UNC Charlotte; Doug Luckett, President and CEO, CaroMont
Health; Trish Goble, Nurse Manager, 6-North/NICHE Unit, CaroMont Health;
Brett Keeter, Gaston College Board of Trustees and Past-President of UNC
Charlotte Alumni Association; and Pearl Burris-Floyd, Chief Operating
Officer of Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, UNC Board of Governors
and CaroMont Health Board of Directors.
Highlights of NC Connect Bond
It's been 15 years since the last general obligation bond was approved
by the voters to upgrade North Carolina’s infrastructure and since
then, the state population has grown by 2 million people. The Connect
NC bond will provide:
- $5.9 million for Gaston College for construction of a new Veterinary Technician
facility, and upgrades for both the Dallas and Lincoln Campuses.
- $90 million for new Science Building at UNC Charlotte.
- $750,000 for improvements at Crowder’s Mountain.
- Water/Sewer Infrastructure grants for municipalities to encourage more
business growth and economic development in Gaston County.