Tacoma Community College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony next month to celebrate the beginning of major construction of the Harned Center for Health Careers.

In October 2010, Tacoma Community College received the largest single gift in the 45-year history of the college from Tacoma resident H.C. “Joe” Harned to support health careers training. Harned, 93, has been a supporter of higher education for many years at area colleges and universities and in his hometown of Ursina, Penn. He has funded scholarships at Tacoma Community College for the past six years. The college’s board of trustees voted name the new Health Careers Center in honor of Harned. The Harned Center for Health Careers will house all health care training. The building’s design will simulate the environment of a health care facility, allowing students to learn in a setting based on the hospitals or clinics they will work in once they graduate.

Last month, officials announced that construction of the building’s geothermal heating/cooling system, as well as the installation of a large storm water vault, was set to begin.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Thurs., Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. at 6501 South 19th Street. More information is online here.