WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $250,000 in federal funding to The Garrett County Board of County Commissioners for the HART Center Phase II Workforce Training Program. The grant will allow for HART for Animals, a McHenry nonprofit, to finish the construction of a new center that will support 10 full-time jobs and provide clinical space for 30 students from Garrett Community College’s veterinary assistance program.

“We need jobs that fill the needs of local communities and ARC grants continue to leverage federal resources to make that happen.  Garrett Community College students are going to gain invaluable hands-on training while learning and working at a state of the art facility that will serve a vital need in western Maryland,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. “This grant brings together federal, state, local and private parties to create jobs and enrich opportunities in Garrett County.”

“This grant is about jobs in Western Maryland,” Senator Mikulski said. “The HART Center will support jobs in Garrett County as well as give more students the skills, training and education they need to get a job and keep a job.”

HART for Animals is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to animal welfare in Western Maryland. The completed HART Center will allow Garrett College to offer more hands on clinical training hours than another program in Maryland. The Center will also provide work experience for graduates seeking future employment in the veterinary field. Garrett College expanded its veterinary program in response to an unmet need for this kind of specialized training.

In addition to ARC funding, Garrett County will provide $250,000, bringing the total project funding to 500,000. 

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