The city will be recognized at its March 19 meeting for its role in the Greentree Health Science Academy partnership.

Greentree, a $7.6 million, 31,000-square-foot multi-faceted health science education facility, opened about 18 months ago and is a partnership among the city, Atrium Medical Center, Warren County Career Center, Warren County Port Authority, Miami University Middletown and Cincinnati State. The OCMA at its winter conference annually honors local government programs and leaders in city and county government.

Middletown is being honored by the Ohio City/County Management Association with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Award for promoting “excellence in government.”

“Greentree Health Science Academy is an important project for the Middletown community. It is a one of a kind facility and will serve as a state-wide and nation-wide model for community partnerships,” City Manager Judy Gilleland said. “This award is not only for the city of Middletown but recognizes the efforts of the many community partners and their accomplishments in making Greentree a premier facility.”

The project was initiated by former Atrium Medical Center CEO Doug McNeill to provide a pipeline of trained and qualified personnel for various hospital positions. Miami University Middletown was approached by McNeill. The city came into the mix, taking the lead in establishing the multi-agency partnership, and the project received a $1 million federal grant.

“The Greentree Health Science Academy shows what is possible when organizations join hands for a common purpose,” WCCC Superintendent Maggie Hess said. “Our goal remains focused on expanding opportunities for our students, and for employers in our region.”

Students at Greentree — which sits on a 4.39-acre piece of the Atrium Medical Center campus — can complete coursework ranging from high school curriculum to undergraduate programming in order to enter the health care workforce, and industry that is growing along the Interstate 75 corridor.

The academy guarantees Middletown and Warren County “will be at the forefront of producing the graduates needed to keep up with the growing health care sector,” according to the nomination form submitted by the city of Middletown.

“This is vital to the area,” according to the form. “This medical center is a large employer and its close proximity to the Greentree Health Science Academy ensures that it will be well staffed with trained and professional employees for years to come. Thus, the intergovernmental cooperation between the city and the county has helped to ensure the stability of an important local employer and medical facility ensuring good jobs and vital emergency services.”

The Warren County Career Center has 100 high school and 200 adult students taking classes this semester. Miami University Middletown has 270 and Cincinnati has 14 students at Greentree this semester.

“Greentree was an incredible team effort and Miami can be proud of the part that it played in its creation and continued success,” said Miami Regional Dean Michael Pratt.