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NANTICOKE — The final piece of Luzerne County Community College’s Francis S. and Mary Gill Carrozza, R.N. Health Sciences Center is finally paid for.

The official closing of the seven-year lease took place on March 11, Robert Bogdon, LCCC’s director of marketing, said in an email to the Times Leader.

According to Times Leader archives, The Kanjorski Center was originally built using federal grant money secured by former Democratic congressman Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, to serve as offices for an insurance company. The company later moved elsewhere and the building was left vacant for more than two years.

“I am glad that LCCC will be using the Kanjorski Center to educate much-needed health care workers. The college’s presence will provide a boost to downtown Nanticoke and our region will benefit from having first-rate graduates in the health care industry,” Kanjorski said in a press release in 2008.

College trustees leased the Kanjorski Center at $289,000 per year plus utilities for seven years, archives show.

Classes moved into the building in fall of 2011. “We had a soft opening in the summer (of 2011),” Bogdon said.

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, who was fundamental in securing funds for LCCC’s move into the downtown called the finalization a “good sign” for Nanticoke.

“They’ve done a phenomenal job,” Yudichak said. “LCCC is the one of the best assets we have in Luzerne County.”

The center, at 3 E. Main St., Nanticoke, houses the Benco Dental Clinic, as well as nursing, respiratory therapy and emergency medical services for the college.

Yudichak said the game plan was to get an anchor tenant, as they did with LCCC.

“The college will be there forever,” Yudichak noted.

Yudichak
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By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko