PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a $20 million funding boost for nursing education during a news conference at St. Petersburg College on Tuesday.
The governor was joined by Florida Commissioner of Education Stasi Kamoutsas and Chancellor of the State University System of Florida Ray Rodrigues.
Praising the college and education leaders for their efforts in workforce education, the governor emphasized the importance of practical skills training alongside traditional four-year degrees. He highlighted Florida’s commitment to workforce education, noting $12 billion invested since 2019.
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“So that was something that we had always talked about on certain extent,” said DeSantis. “But then, when COVID hit, you had this massive shortage of health care and nurses around the country."
Since 2022, Florida has invested nearly $500 million in nursing education, producing over 1,000 additional nurses annually, according to DeSantis. He said the new funding includes $14.5 million for state colleges and private post-secondary schools and $6 million for state universities.