Columbia Gorge Community College will receive $1.2 million in federal CARES Act Recovery funding to expand healthcare workforce training across the region.   U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the award Tuesday.  CGCC Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Occupations Lorie Saito says the grant will enable the college to upgrade healthcare training equipment and facilities.  Funding will provide faculty support for the Medical Assisting program, allowing the college to increase class capacity to 24 students and address an urgent need for medical assistants in the region.  The grant also supports the college’s plans to offer nursing students a part-time option, creating a three-year program in addition to the current two-year program, helping students who are not able to commit to full-time studies.  Finally, the grant will jumpstart the college’s development of paramedic and EMT training.  The proposed paramedic degree will be a nine-month, hands-on, skills-based program providing students with the technical skills for emergency medical and trauma situations.  The degree will prepare students for the Oregon State and National Registry of Paramedic exams.