DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis visited Daytona State College today to highlight Florida’s progress in enhancing the nursing talent pipeline through the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund and the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund. These programs aim to increase the number of nurses entering the workforce by incentivizing collaboration and performance in nursing education.
Governor DeSantis recently approved $130 million for these nursing programs as part of the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget. This funding is in addition to $125 million appropriated in FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24, bringing the total investment to $380 million. Since FY 2022-23, Daytona State College has received over $9 million through PIPELINE and LINE.
“Florida is addressing the nationwide demand for qualified nurses through smart investments in workforce and nursing education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These two programs are producing results, which is why I will support their full renewal in the upcoming fiscal year.”
Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., stated, “Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s investment in high-quality nursing programs is paying off. The PIPELINE and LINE programs are strong incentives for public-private partnership and because of them, we are seeing record numbers of enrollees and completers.”
Ray Rodrigues, Chancellor of the State University System of Florida, added, “Through Governor DeSantis’ leadership and the support of the Florida legislature, our universities are partnering with the private sector to receive mission-critical resources needed to graduate more high-quality nurses than ever before. With the continuation of the LINE and PIPELINE investments, nursing programs will continue to expand and fill a critical workforce need for our state.”
In FY 2023-24, 7,498 students completed a nursing program—the highest number in three years. Enrollment in Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) programs at FCS institutions that received LINE funding increased by 25 percent from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24. Additionally, ASN program completions at those colleges increased by 24 percent during this period.
Florida has invested $46 million annually since FY 2022-23 into state universities through PIPELINE and LINE programs. These investments have expanded capacity within State University System nursing programs resulting in a record high of 1,800 graduates.
Established in 2022 as a competitive grant opportunity for various educational institutions partnering with healthcare providers on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis, LINE supports state universities, school districts, FCS institutions, and independent nonprofit colleges. The PIPELINE fund rewards performance among nursing education programs at state universities and other institutions offering licensed practical nurse programs.
The application process for LINE funds is currently open. The Florida Department of Education has posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) for disbursement details online. Interested institutions should submit a Notice of Intent by September 10, 2024.
For further information about the Florida Department of Education visit www.fldoe.org.
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