MARSHALL — U.S. Senator Tina Smith visited Southwest Minnesota State University Wednesday to highlight federal funding and tour the future site of a new nursing simulation lab tied to the school’s planned four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

The program expansion and facility upgrades are backed by $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Smith and Senator Amy Klobuchar in the 2026 appropriations bills. Plans include renovating classrooms, building a new simulation lab and adding modern healthcare technology.

Smith said the project is part of a broader effort to address a critical shortage of registered nurses, particularly in rural communities.

“We are in deep need of RNs across the whole spectrum, just to meet the healthcare needs of people in small towns and rural communities across the state,” Smith said. “This is not just a Minnesota issue. It is a federal need as well.”

Currently, SMSU’s nursing program only accepts students who have already completed a two-year nursing degree. The planned four-year program will allow students to enroll without prior certification, expanding access and helping build a stronger workforce pipeline in southwest Minnesota.

The funding, secured in part through Smith and Senator Amy Klobuchar, will help equip the lab with high-fidelity simulation technology designed to replicate real-world clinical settings. University officials said the equipment is essential to providing students with hands-on training in a controlled environment.

“We couldn’t do any of this without the startup funding,” one university representative said, noting the lab will allow students to practice advanced skills and encounter rare clinical scenarios safely.

Smith said that the funding process is driven by local needs, with institutions like SMSU bringing forward ideas and federal lawmakers working to secure support.

“It’s really about listening to the people that are doing the hard work and helping to make sure that they get the money to make it happen,” she said. “I feel like I’m sort of a servant of the good work and ideas that you all have here.”

The project also includes partnerships with regional healthcare providers, creating a pipeline for students to transition from training into local jobs. Smith called those collaborations “really powerful,” especially for students who want to remain in or return to rural communities.

Beyond workforce development, Smith pointed to broader challenges facing rural healthcare systems, including rising costs and cuts to Medicaid funding. She said affordability remains a top concern for many Minnesotans.

“When you ask Minnesotans what’s the biggest worry, so many times they will say the cost of getting the healthcare that I need,” Smith said.

Smith said visiting SMSU in person helps her better advocate for similar projects in Washington.

“When I come to learn about these projects in a little bit more detail, it’ll help me be a better advocate when I go back,” she said. “I can say, well, I can tell you from direct experience.”

She added that she also wanted to highlight the university’s work and its role in addressing workforce needs.

“I just have a ton of respect for this institution,” Smith said. “I learn something every time I come.”