Did you know Pennsylvania’s newest community college is situated right in Erie County?
There’s been rapid growth for the local school.
Tonight, we check out the newest program and construction project on the main campus.
It is this week’s Giving You the Business report, sponsored by the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.
Dr. Chris Gray is the school’s president.
He was hired in 2021, about two months before the school opened, after a longtime local push to have one in Erie County.
Since we visited what’s referred to as EC3, at the original East 10th Street site of the former St. Benedict’s, it’s grown to four locations — including Corry, Summit, and now the main campus, which is the former Villa Maria School site off West 8th Street in Erie.
The average age of students at EC3 is in their upper 20s.
And tuition is taken care of with FAFSA scholarship application forms filled out.
Lillyann Larson will now use her EC3 schooling as a springboard to higher education.
The soon-to-be graduate has been one of the 800 students enrolled in one of the many programs offered.
Registered nurse Bailey Shafer will oversee this and the new practical nursing program.
She’s the director of the health sciences, which also includes —
Described as the fastest-growing community college in the nation.
More growth is planned to help any potential student reach their potential, with the hope of them staying in the community where they got their education.