Nearly $176 million in federal money is going toward a health care center in South Jersey, and several facilities at Rowan University, according to a March 23 announcement from the Biden administration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will send $88.2 million to the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, the agency announced. Those funds will be used to upgrade Deborah’s double-occupancy in-patient rooms to private suites, and pay for an in-patient tower of individual patient suites.
“This will help improve patient and visitor safety, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the USDA said in a statement.
Another $61 million is going towards the Gloucester County Improvement Authority, which will use the funds to create a “fossil park” in Mantua Township in collaboration with Rowan’s new College of Earth and Environment Science.
The physical site is teeming with fossils, and would “provide a space to train students in the growing field of green technology,” reads a joint statement from the offices of Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.
“This federal investment will ensure South Jersey communities have continued access to quality health care and higher education,” Menendez said.
Another $26.3 million will be awarded to the GCIA to go towards a 17,500-square-foot expansion of the Rowan student center.