Beaufort County Community College (Beaufort CCC) has received a $164,426 grant from The Cannon Foundation to support its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training program. The funding will allow the college to purchase a fully equipped, road-ready ambulance to better serve students and communities across its service area.
The new training ambulance will replace the college’s current vehicle, a repurposed EastCare unit from 2018 that has logged nearly 400,000 miles. Mechanical issues and high mileage have limited its use to local exercises, making it increasingly difficult for Beaufort CCC to meet state-mandated training requirements. The college’s backup ambulance is no longer operational, and borrowing vehicles from local agencies has become an unsustainable solution due to regional shortages.
“This new ambulance will address a major gap in our training resources,” said Billy Respass, director of EMS programs at Beaufort CCC. “We identified an ambulance already in production, so we significantly reduced delivery times compared to a custom build. Thanks to The Cannon Foundation, we can provide the high-quality, hands-on training our students need without long delays.”
The ambulance will come stocked with medical equipment and include a simulator to provide realistic training scenarios. It will be used for a range of EMS programs, including required EMT driver training and mobile simulation outreach to rural areas in Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties, some of the most economically distressed regions in the state.
“This investment will enhance community health and safety for years to come,” Respass said. “It allows us to deliver life-saving education and support workforce development in the places that need it most.”
The Cannon Foundation has a long-standing relationship with Beaufort CCC, having previously supported programs like Boat Manufacture & Service. Founded in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, the foundation prioritizes improving health care, education, and economic opportunity in North Carolina.
Beaufort CCC offers a range of EMS courses, including EMT, Advanced EMT, Paramedic, Community Health Paramedicine, and Flight/Critical Care Paramedic training, as well as continuing education for current EMS providers.
To learn more about EMS programs at Beaufort CCC, contact Billy Respass at 252-940-6448 or email [email protected].