Lanier Technical College has been awarded a $794,480 federal grant by the U.S. Department of Labor to fund expansion of the college’s Clinical Laboratory Technology program.

"The college will be able to train more and more people that are needed for this emerging industry in Northeast Georgia," said Mike Moye, president of Lanier Tech.

The goal of the Clinical Learning Expansion and Recruitment initiative at Lanier Technical College is to increase capacity and upgrade training in order to produce competent clinical lab professionals to meet the needs of employers in this field. The jobs range from hospital laboratory technicians to those who work in private laboratory.

Lanier Tech’s program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and only 12 applicants are accepted. The deadline for application is winter quarter, October of each year.

Kimberly Randolph, the program director, has a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science and a master’s degree in laboratory management in addition to 11 years of lab experience.

The college offers an associate’s degree in the field. The three-year grant will be used to pay for additional laboratory equipment and instruction.