Kitsap County commissioners approved $6 million in Phase 1 funding at its June 10 meeting for Olympic College’s Allied Health campus in Poulsbo in efforts to expand education and training of medical staff.

OC is collaborating with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and other healthcare providers for the project. Phase 1 programs are expected to start by September of 2025. Construction was set to begin recently.

Programs being developed for Phase 1 include: Corpsman/Medic to Practical Nurse (10 students/year); Phlebotomy (20 students/year); Radiology (20 students/year); Sonography (20 students/year); and Surgical Technology (20 students/year). Phase 1 growth would be an addition of 90 students per year.

Phase 1 work involves remodeling approximately 6,000 square feet of the Poulsbo campus for radiology, sonography and surgical technology, and repairing the building to solve leaks, a presentation from OC states. Relocation planning is in progress for programs displaced by the remodel.

Phase 2 programs, which are set to start in 2028, include: Respiratory Technician (20 students/year); Dental hygiene (40 students/year); Dental Assisting (20 students/year); Paramedic (20 students/year); and EMT (20 students/year). Phase 2 growth would be an addition of 120 students per year.

For Phase 2, an up to 80,000-square-foot facility will be built that includes a primary care clinic, classrooms, and innovative learning spaces such as multi-disciplinary simulation and lab environments. All Health Sciences will move to Poulsbo, per documents.

Construction for Phase 2 is slated to begin in November of 2026 with those programs starting by September of 2028.

Kitsap County received federal funding to assist in the COVID response and community recovery.

OC president Marty Cavalluzzi told commissioners: “We have a national issue with healthcare and you see it here locally. Your funds are going to address this. It’s going to make a difference in this county for generations to come.”