Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the state has awarded over $485 million to support nursing education programs since 2022. The funds have been distributed through two initiatives: the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) programs.
On this occasion, more than $20 million in LINE funding was awarded—$14.5 million went to state colleges and private postsecondary institutions, while $6 million was directed to state universities. To date, the LINE program has provided over $85 million in total awards: $61.5 million for state colleges and private institutions, and $24 million for State University System (SUS) schools. The PIPELINE program has allocated a total of $400 million since its inception, with $240 million going to state colleges and school districts and another $160 million designated for SUS institutions.
Governor DeSantis stated: “Today, I was proud to award more than $20 million in LINE funding with $14.5 million awarded to state colleges and private postsecondary institutions, as well as $6 million to state universities. Florida is investing at scale to expand nursing programs and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Since launching the LINE and PIPELINE programs in 2022, Florida has invested more than $485 million in nursing education.”
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas commented on the initiative: “Governor DeSantis has made nursing education a top priority in Florida, recognizing the critical role nurses play in keeping our communities healthy and safe. Through strategic investments like the LINE and PIPELINE programs, we are supporting the next generation of nurses by expanding opportunity to high-quality education and ensuring Florida’s healthcare workforce is prepared to meet growing demand.”
State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues added: “Florida’s continued investment in nursing education demonstrates our state’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding opportunities for students across the State University System. The LINE and PIPELINE programs deliver real results and empower institutions to recruit talented faculty, enhance professional training, and graduate highly skilled nurses prepared to meet the needs of communities statewide.”
The LINE program operates as a competitive matching grant designed to foster partnerships between educational organizations and health care providers. It supports scholarships for qualifying students based on residency requirements for tuition purposes; aids recruitment of additional faculty; helps fund equipment purchases; and enhances simulation centers aimed at advancing quality nursing education.
More details about LINE-funded institutions can be found on the Florida Department of Education website at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities/linefund/.
