Construction is officially underway on a new two-story, $20 million nursing center at the College of Central Florida’s campus in Ocala.
On Thursday morning, over 200 community partners, faculty staff, and students attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the College of Central Florida (CF) campus located at 3001 SW College Road in Ocala.
“This is a great day for the college, our health care providers and the citizens of our community,” stated Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president.
Funding for CF’s $20 million expansion project was provided by the Florida Legislature, Marion County Hospital District, and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
In the spring of 2023, CF received a $6.7 million Linking Industry to Nursing Education grant from the Florida Legislature to expand its nursing program.
The upcoming 42,500-gross-square-foot nursing center will include six classrooms, three skill labs, six simulation exam rooms, and a testing lab. According to CF, the facility will serve 325 nursing students in associate and bachelor’s degree programs.
The first classes at the nursing center are expected to be offered in January of 2025.
CF’s associate degree nursing program was named the 2023 Best RN Program in Florida by registerednursing.org.
For more information about the College of Central Florida’s nursing program, visit the college’s website.