Bradford County School District receives $4M to expand SF nursing program

The Bradford County School District received a $4 million award that will allow it to expand its existing Santa Fe College nursing program.
The Bradford County School District received a $4 million award that will allow it to expand its existing Santa Fe College nursing program.
Courtesy of SF

Bradford County School District (BCSD) was awarded $4 million on Tuesday to support the expansion of Santa Fe College’s Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) program.

According to a Santa Fe College (SF) press release, the “Bradford: Building a Healthy Future” initiative was among the $223 million in projects funded by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Feb. 2. The monies originated through the federally supported Multipurpose Community Facilities Program.

Bradford County, which was among 29 projects funded across the state, received the maximum ward from the program, which provides for the rehabilitation and construction of community facilities for educational opportunities, workforce development and access to healthcare in small and rural Florida communities.

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BCSD’s collaboration with SF will not only increase access to healthcare education in the county but will also provide access to healthcare for residents by addressing nursing shortages experienced both locally and nationwide.  

“Nurses are an indispensable part of an effective health care system, and both locally and nationally, there is a need for trained, qualified nursing professionals,” said Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie II in the press release. “We are excited to partner with North Florida Technical College on this transformational opportunity to address the nursing shortage, while providing the citizens of Bradford County easier access to the training needed to enter this in-demand field.”

The nursing program will be located at BCSD’s North Florida Technical College (NFTC) in Starke. The $4 million will help renovate NFTC by upgrading space for the nursing classroom, office and lab space, along with purchasing equipment. The funds will also support remote instruction.

The program anticipates a launch date for the 2026-27 school year that will allow County students to earn their ASN without having to travel to SF’s Northwest Campus in Gainesville.

“We are excited to continue to expand our partnership with Santa Fe College,” Will Harley, Bradford County Superintendent of Schools, said in the press release. “The ASN program will be a valuable bridge for our students at North Florida Technical College to continue their education and pursue jobs that provide a higher wage. I am so appreciative of all of those who worked on this grant to increase the opportunities to our community. We will be working hard to complete the necessary renovations so that the program can start as soon as possible.” 

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