May 12, 2026
BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Community College and the BRCC Foundation have received a $375,000 gift from St. James Place to bolster the learning and workforce development inside the new BRCC | Our Lady of the Lake Nursing & Allied Health Building, it was announced Tuesday.
With the gift, St. James Place has secured the naming rights to the Assisted Living Apartment inside the BRCC | Our Lady of the Lake Nursing & Allied Health Building. The Assisted Living Apartment is a new simulation space designed to mirror the environment and care practices of residential assisted living communities.
St. James Place’s gift will help BRCC students train how to effectively care for patients in assisted living facilities in a real-world environment.
In addition, the gift creates The St. James Place Scholars: Nursing & Allied Health Workforce Scholarship Fund that will directly support student access and success in BRCC’s Nursing & Allied Health programs.
“This partnership reflects the power of education and industry working together to strengthen Louisiana’s healthcare workforce and serve the evolving needs of our community,” said Willie E. Smith, Sr., Chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College. “We are deeply grateful to St. James Place for their investment in our students and in the future of healthcare in the Capital Region. Through this partnership, our students will gain hands-on experience in an environment that exemplifies excellence, compassion, and dignity in senior care while helping BRCC continue to address critical workforce shortages across our region.”
As part of this partnership, St. James Place will also lend its expertise in interior design and resident-centered living by decorating the Assisted Living Apartment. This personalized touch will ensure that the space reflects the same warmth, décor and ambiance that residents receive at St. James Place, offering students a training environment that emphasizes both clinical excellence and compassionate care.
“Baton Rouge Community College and St. James Place share a deep commitment to developing people and helping them reach their growth goals,” President and CEO of St. James Place Dick Wager said. “We are impressed with BRCC’s depth of educational programs, as well as their quality and value-driven approach. A recent example of BRCC’s leadership and commitment to excellence is the Our Lady of the Lake Nursing & Allied Health Building, a state-of-the-art training facility that will elevate both the quality and quantity of licensed nurses and other healthcare professionals.
“We are proud to partner with BRCC to grow employment opportunities and develop skilled professionals for our team members and the greater Baton Rouge community.”
About St. James Place
St. James Place’s mission continues to be to provide a lifestyle of abundant choices, healthy and vibrant social life, and beautiful spaces you can call home. With over 24 patio homes and apartment floor plans to choose from, you will find a home at St. James Place. As the only Life Plan Community in Baton Rouge, St. James Place provides a stress-free, maintenance free lifestyle with the peace of mind that comes with financial security and the knowledge that a full continuum of care is available on campus, should you ever need them. Sponsored by the St. James Episcopal Church, St. James Place opened in 1983 to promote active, successful aging for residents of the Gulf South Region. Located in the heart of Baton Rouge, the beautiful 52-acre landscape offers the serenity of nature along with an amenity-filled, state-of-the-art facilities. For more information, visit their website www.stjamesplace.org or call 225-215-4500.
About BRCC
Baton Rouge Community College is a leading higher education institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that offers more than 100 academic and workforce programs for traditional and non-traditional students. The college generates an annual economic impact of more than $300 million, and 98% of graduates reside and contribute to the workforce in Louisiana. Through partnerships with regional employers and national organizations, BRCC provides hands-on, industry-aligned training that meets Louisiana’s evolving workforce needs.