FORT MYERS, FLA. / AGILITYPR.NEWS / July 25, 2024 / With the new fiscal year underway, Southwest Florida’s largest and most affordable institution of higher education is off to a strong start in our continued commitment to supporting the workforce needs of the communities we serve. Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) received more than $12 million dollars in funding appropriated from this year’s State Budget – signed by Governor DeSantis in June - to support workforce development, two-thirds of which will be used to bolster educational offerings that will have a direct impact to the Southwest Florida community.

A key area of focus is addressing the high demand in healthcare-related fields, which continues to outpace supply at unsustainable rates according to industry experts; radiologic technology is no exception. With an annual influx of 80-100 qualified applicants aspiring to enroll in FSW’s Radiologic Technology program, capacity is often reached very quickly, with the program’s physical limitations typically allowing for around 30 students to be admitted each year. Fortunately, however, $2.2 million dollars has been appropriated by the state to energize and expand FSW’s clinical facilities, enhancing the program’s capacity by nearly double heading into the future. This enhancement will not only benefit the current students and faculty at FSW, but will have an immediate impact on the Southwest Florida community by nearly doubling the number of highly skilled radiologic technologists entering the workforce.

Furthermore, FSW’s Charlotte Campus in Punta Gorda is home to many exciting educational offerings that uphold the college’s commitment to Move Charlotte Forward. The campus creates a significant positive impact on the business community, students, taxpayers, and society. Considering our robust relationship with the community, the college’s strategic partners and employers of FSW graduates continue to express a dire need for us to provide as many qualified and skilled graduates as possible to assist with the increased demand, particularly in healthcare-related fields.

With the assistance of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-28) and our Charlotte County Legislative Delegation, consisting of incoming Senate President Ben Albritton (R-27) and Representatives Spencer Roach (R-75) and Michael Grant (R-76), FSW was able to secure $2.4 million dollars in Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funding to put toward a complete remodel project of our Health Professions building. When completed, the building remodel will align the vocational program, campus facilities and available technology to create high-fidelity patient simulations and skills labs necessary to increase total enrollment of new students, as well as those seeking continuing education.

In addition to our already existing programs offered at FSW’s Charlotte Campus, FSW recently announced the creation of five new programs including an Advanced Medical Assisting A.S. degree, Physical Therapy Assistant A.S. degree, and Medical Assisting Specialist Certificate for students eager to enter the workforce or continue on to a bachelor’s degree program.

Lastly, with the help of State Representative Adam Botana (R-80) and President Passidomo, FSW received an additional influx of $1.5 million dollars in non-recurring funding for the creation of the Institute of Innovative and Emerging Technologies (IIET), enabling us to continue to uphold our commitment to not only meeting the demands of today’s workforce, but also ensuring our students and faculty are prepared to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Driven by Florida’s emergence as a rapidly growing hub for technology innovation, the IIET is positioning the college to be a leader in the implementation of new technologies as they develop. Through its multifaceted design, students, faculty, and community members will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology infrastructure intended for facilitating collaborative research and industry engagement with our strategic partners.

The investments in these three pivotal projects mark a significant milestone for FSW and the broader Southwest Florida community. Enhancements to our School of Health Professions and the advancement of our Institute of Innovative and Emerging Technologies will enable FSW to continue our commitment to preparing our students to meet the workforce demands of today while staying ahead of the challenges of tomorrow. With continued support from our elected officials and our strategic partners in the community, these investments will yield lasting benefits, both creating a thriving and dynamic region poised for success, and positioning our students and faculty to prosper in all their endeavors.

Alex Crispin is a Legislative & Legal Analyst at Florida SouthWestern State College. He can be reached at Alex.Crispin@fsw.edu.