SUNY Adirondack receives $5 million grant

QUEENSBURY, New York (April 7, 2026) — SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce it received a $5 million Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program (HELP) grant from the state Department of Health to support students in health care fields.

This funding will provide wraparound services, including advising, tutoring, tuition, books, fees, supplies, parking, transportation costs, conference attendance and personal expenses.

SUNY Adirondack is one of 21 organizations across the state to receive funding. The $1 million-a-year grant will allow the college to continue services offered through Healthcare Pathways, a program created at the college with a SUNY Future of Work Centers grant.

Since its inception in in February 2024, Healthcare Pathways has assisted more than 1,000 students in earning a degree or certification by paying for training, textbooks, gas cards and more.

“We are incredibly proud of the work being done through SUNY Adirondack’s Healthcare Pathways program supporting individuals pursuing careers in health care,” said Kimberly Comisky, director of Healthcare Pathways at SUNY Adirondack. “By providing wraparound supports that help eliminate barriers, this new funding will allow us to expand those opportunities even further while strengthening the health care workforce and opening doors for our students and community.”

With the HELP grant, SUNY Adirondack will expand those services by teaming with Adirondack Health Institute, which will also provide tuition/fee support for those seeking careers in health care.

“For close to 40 years, AHI has worked with our regional partners to expand opportunities and ensure communities have access to the resources they need to thrive,” said Karen L. Ashline, chief executive officer of Adirondack Health Institute. “We are honored for the opportunity to share this work in collaboration with SUNY Adirondack, supporting students with critical resources that will help grow and sustain our region’s health care workforce.”

SUNY Adirondack offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing; an Associate of Science (AS) in Health Sciences; an AS in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Health Sciences; and an AAS in Criminal Justice: Substance Use and Addiction Services, as well as non-credit training programs for certified nurse aide (CNA), home health aide (HHA) and personal care aide (PCA) positions — all of which are eligible to receive support from Healthcare Pathways.

The five-year grant is geared toward ensuring students pursuing careers in high-demand health care fields complete their education.

The Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program aims to fund health care training programs that provide a holistic approach in supporting trainees on their paths to success and increase their ability to thrive in an evolving health care environment.

"When students and trainees withdraw from their programs, we lose future health care workers needed to provide care in our communities," said State Health Commissioner James McDonald. "These awards will help eliminate barriers to a career in health care by improving program retention, bolstering the students and our health care."

Learn more about the Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program and New York State Department of Health's Office of Healthcare Workforce Innovation at https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/healthcare_workforce_innovation/.