Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited Daytona State College today to spotlight Florida’s achievements in tackling the nursing shortage through two key programs: the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund and the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund.
These initiatives are designed to promote collaboration and excellence in nursing education, ultimately increasing the number of qualified nurses entering the workforce.
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Continuing his commitment to make Florida the top state for workforce education by 2030, Governor DeSantis recently approved $130 million for the PIPELINE and LINE nursing programs as part of the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget. This allocation builds on the $125 million appropriated in the previous two fiscal years, bringing the total investment to $380 million. Daytona State College alone has received over $9 million through these programs since FY 2022-23.
“Florida is meeting the national demand for qualified nurses through strategic investments in workforce and nursing education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These programs are delivering results, and I will fully support their renewal in the upcoming fiscal year.”
Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. praised the initiative, saying, “Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s investment in high-quality nursing programs is paying off. The PIPELINE and LINE programs are powerful incentives for public-private partnerships, and we’re seeing record numbers of students enrolling and completing these programs.”
Ray Rodrigues, Chancellor of the State University System of Florida, added, “Our universities are graduating more high-quality nurses than ever before, thanks to the support of Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature. The continued investment in LINE and PIPELINE programs is critical to meeting the workforce needs of our state.”
In FY 2023-24, 7,498 students completed a nursing program in Florida, the highest number in three years. Enrollment in Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) programs at Florida College System (FCS) institutions receiving LINE funding increased by 25 percent from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24, with the number of graduates from these programs rising by 24 percent.
Florida has committed $46 million annually to state universities since FY 2022-23 to enhance nursing education through the PIPELINE and LINE programs, resulting in a record 1,800 nursing graduates from the State University System.
Established in 2022, the LINE program offers competitive grants to state universities, school districts, FCS institutions, and independent nonprofit colleges and universities. It provides matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis to agencies partnering with healthcare providers. The PIPELINE fund, meanwhile, rewards nursing education programs that demonstrate excellence at state universities, school district postsecondary technical career centers, and FCS institutions offering licensed practical nurse programs.
The application process for LINE funds is currently open, with the Florida Department of Education accepting proposals until September 10, 2024. Interested institutions can find the Request for Proposal (RFP) and related documents on the department’s website.
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