Trocaire College, BCAT Teaming up to Offer Cost-Free Phlebotomy, SPD Training in 2019

Corporate partner Catholic Health to consider course grads for employment

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – Feb. 5, 2019 – Thanks to funds from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council, Trocaire College and the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) are pairing up in 2019 to offer free training in phlebotomy and sterile processing and distribution (SPD) to Buffalo-area residents.

Announced in January, the grant totals $99,936 and allows for one cohort each of phlebotomy and SPD to take place on the BCAT campus in downtown Buffalo this fall. The cost of course tuition will be covered in full for participating students, as will books, supplies and public transit passes. Corporate partner Catholic Health will interview students who successfully complete the training and consider them for employment.

The grant specifically targets “unemployed or underemployed workers, with an emphasis on individuals with barriers to employment and veterans,” with the goal of offering occupational skills training that will qualify participants to attain employment or a higher level of employment in available local positions.

According to the New York State Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections for phlebotomists and medical equipment preparers through 2026 are very favorable and favorable, respectively. The entry-level annual salary for both is about $30,000, with the average salary falling at about $40,000.

“We are thrilled to be able to team up with BCAT and offer this training opportunity to Buffalo residents,” said Mollie Ballaro, Trocaire’s dean of admissions and workforce development. “Both phlebotomy and SPD are entry points into Western New York’s booming healthcare industry—they offer careers with salaries that exceed Buffalo’s median household income, and also act as the first step into related fields such as nursing, surgical technology and many others.”

“BCAT looks forward to expanding opportunities for our community, and we are pleased to partner with Trocaire to bring these courses into our facility on Main Street,” said Gina Burkhardt, president and CEO at BCAT.

In addition to providing the physical classroom space for the courses, BCAT will recruit students and deliver wraparound supports such as life skills coaching and individual tutoring. Trocaire will provide instructors, marketing and course materials and curriculum.

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About BCAT

Since 2013, The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) has delivered successful strategies and programs that promote high educational attainment in youth and reduce high unemployment rates among adults from nearby neighborhoods in Buffalo. BCAT’s Youth Arts Program (YAP) promotes on-time high school graduation, the pursuit of higher education and a productive career pathway. The Adult Workforce Program effectively transitions individuals from unemployment and underemployment into career opportunities that lead to family-sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement.

About Trocaire College
Founded in 1958 in the Buffalo, NY by the Sisters of Mercy, Trocaire College is a private, career-oriented Catholic college that strives to empower students toward personal enrichment, dignity and self-worth through education. A career-oriented institution, Trocaire offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and certificate and workforce development programs in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. Recognizing the individual needs of a diverse student body, Trocaire College provides life learning and development within a community-based environment, preparing students for service in the universal community. Visit www.staging.trocaire.edu for more information and follow Trocaire on Facebook and Twitter.