ASU Newport receives $7.7 million for nursing and health professionals facility

Arkansas State University Newport has received $7.7 million from the federal government to complete its nursing and health professionals facility, according to Chancellor Ike Wheeler.

The facility will be located on the Newport campus. A timeline for completing work on the facility was not released. The total cost of the project is $19 million. Construction is expected to begin in June after approval from the ASU System Board of Trustees.

“We want to express our appreciation to State Sen. Ron Caldwell and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for their assistance with some of the key supporters of this building. When completed almost 50,000 square feet will be utilized for health and nursing students, along with the doubling of capacity of the High Voltage Lineman program which is in great demand by utility companies statewide,” Wheeler said.

ASU Newport has two other campuses besides the one in Newport. The school has a campus in Jonesboro and another one in Marked Tree.

The two-year college has about 5,000 students annually and caters to a 10-county area in Northeast Arkansas.