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Grant something to smile about at EGCC

ARC VISIT — Federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Tim Thomas, second from right, visited Eastern Gateway Community College Wednesday afternoon and learned about the college’s use of an ARC grant in the dental assisting program. Explaining a digital X-ray machine and a dental patient mockup was Tammy Graham, third from right, dental assisting program director for EGCC. Looking on were Jason Wilson, left, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia; Jeannette Wierzbicki, executive director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association; and EGCC President Jimmie Bruce, right. -- Paul Giannamore

STEUBENVILLE — A $50,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to Eastern Gateway Community College that resulted in new equipment and an upgrade for the dental assisting program brought lots of smiles since its award.

Perhaps the biggest Wednesday afternoon was from EGCC dental program Director Tammy Graham as she explained new equipment and the program to Tim Thomas, federal co-chair of the ARC.

Thomas was making a swing through the area looking at the uses of ARC grants and found the EGCC dental grant a “win-win” in its ability to help educate people so they can obtain good jobs and the dental program’s ability to provide dental services to those in need.

Graham showed the Nomad handheld dental X-ray machine, a dental digital patient mockup and a computerized dental office management and record-keeping system all purchased through the ARC grant and an EGCC match. Graham said it’s the second year for the equipment but it has taken extensive training for her and the staff to implement it. She recently attended a session at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

She said the new equipment has enabled her students to obtain better jobs and noted half her students transfer to four-year programs after completing the EGCC program to get a bachelor’s degree.

EGCC offers dental assisting and expanded function dental auxiliary training, with EFDA students often coming from as far as three hours away, Graham said.

Graham told Thomas about EGCC’s programs to provide dental care to people who otherwise might not receive any, including Saturday dental clinics for reduced fees in the spring and the annual Give Kids a Smile event for children’s dental care.

Thomas said he is able to go back to Washington after visits like the EGCC dental tour to show where ARC makes a difference.

“We’ve been in existence for 50 years, and the statistics show the Appalachian region is much different than it was when ARC came on the scene,” he said. “We like to think ARC has been a big part of that, but to show where these investments make a difference in a local area is very important when it actually comes time to talk to the folks that appropriate funds that allow ARC to continue its mission.”

He commended EGCC and its dental staff for providing the community dental care.

“There is no downside to this investment,” he said.

EGCC President Jimmie Bruce told Thomas, “I know a lot of times when you work as a funder, you don’t get to see where the rubber hits the road and what a difference it can make and how those dollars end up helping students. We are very appreciative of all the work all of you do to make those things happen.”

After the EGCC visit, Thomas went to see the Wellsville Intermodal Facility, which used ARC grants in its development.

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