(Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 11, 2022) — State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s (SCF) Nursing Center of Excellence received a $150,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation to support expansion and meet the growing needs of the local health care workforce with nursing graduates. The expansion is a necessary step toward meeting the needs of the region as it witnesses both an aging and growing population in need of health care professionals, as well as an aging workforce with a projected spike in the retirement of registered nurses (RNs).

“Our community has a significant number of vacant nursing positions, and it will take investment by multiple sectors to reverse this trend,” said Jennifer Johnston, Director of Community Leadership at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “We are proud to partner with State College of Florida, local hospitals, and government to recruit and retain our invaluable health care heroes.”

SCF’s nursing program is one of the most accomplished and productive programs in the state of Florida, offering Associate in Science (ASN) and Bachelor of Science (BSN) in nursing degrees. For the past decade, SCF has maintained the highest average Florida Board of Nursing exam pass rates in the region at 98-100%. Additionally, students graduating from SCF’s nursing program are poised to earn almost 150% of the mean income for all occupations in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area.

“We are grateful to Gulf Coast for recognizing the quality of SCF’s nursing program and supporting its growth,” said SCF Foundation Executive Director Cassandra Holmes. “SCF’s Nursing Center of Excellence will continue to help address the critical nursing shortage in our area with quality, high performing and sought-after nurses.”

The college maintains advanced educational facilities, including the only state-of-the-art Medical Technology & Simulation Center on Florida’s west coast and a world-class faculty who all hold advanced degrees. These facilities are made possible through the support of the community, state legislature, local foundations, and the State College of Florida Foundation.

The SCF Foundation focuses on connecting the community with the college’s outstanding students, faculty and programs to help fund scholarships, learning opportunities and capital improvements. For more information about the SCF Foundation, visit SCF-Foundation.org or call 941-752-5390.

About Gulf Coast Community Foundation

For more than 25 years, together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of over 950 families, individuals, businesses, and organizations that have established charitable funds here. Together, we have invested over $430 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.