Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) has received a grant of more than $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support developing diversity in the nursing workforce.

The Nursing Workforce Diversity grant provides $370,000 each of three years toward recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups to the nursing profession, as well as leadership development throughout the educational experience.

“The grant will support the infrastructure necessary to ensure that MCN can help to prepare the workforce needed for the future,” Mennonite College of Nursing Dean Janet Krejci said. Currently, nurses from minority backgrounds represent approximately 16.8 percent of the registered nurse workforce.

The grant will ensure scholarships and programming that will positively impact the entire college and MCN’s community partners, including area schools and hospitals.