CF contributes to state’s status as No. 1 for workforce education

The College of Central Florida is in the midst of its largest workforce education expansion, and is proud to contribute to Florida’s achievement as the No. 1 state in the nation for workforce education. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Feb. 17 that the milestone has fulfilled Executive Order 19-31 five years ahead of the 2030 goal. The governor’s more than $12 billion commitment to workforce education supports many of the industry-driven, high-demand career pathways that CF offers for local students.

“We are proud to say that College of Central Florida graduates get jobs, not debt,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “Thanks to support from Governor DeSantis, Commissioner of Education Kamoutsas, and our state legislators, the unprecedented growth of our workforce education programs is a win-win-win for students, employers and residents of the Marion-Citrus-Levy tricounty area. As the partnership college, we benefit from strong local support, and CF has received more than $31 million from local industry to supplement legislative funding over the past five years.”

The opening of CF’s completely renovated Allied Health Sciences building in 2023 was just the start of a facilities expansion for the workforce training programs that drive our local economy. The brand-new AdventHealth Center for Nursing opened in early 2025. This April, CF will reopen the renovated Building 19, the new home for its award-winning Emergency Medical Services programs. Later this year, the college will premier its Advanced Manufacturing Center, funded by a $4.9 million Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant from the Florida Legislature. Also this year, CF will break ground for a brand-new Center for Criminal Justice. The college’s Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm has received half the needed funding from the state legislature to move forward with construction of a new $9.8 million Center for Agricultural Sciences.

Enrollment in CF’s workforce education programs has increased by 25% in the past seven years, and the addition of new programs gives students more opportunities than ever to train for the careers that are in high demand with local employers. CF launched new programs in Hospitality and Tourism, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Network Security in fall 2025 to prepare graduates for success with our area’s top employers. The Artificial Intelligence Awareness certificate program now in its first semester provides students with the technical and analytical skills needed to excel in the rapidly evolving field of AI. And, this fall, CF will begin Florida’s first Associate in Science degree in Precision Agriculture, designed to prepare the high-tech agribusiness workforce of the future and strengthened by statewide support by UF-IFAS.

In his announcement, Gov. DeSantis noted the strength of our state’s educational structure.

“Florida has built an education system that delivers outcomes, opens doors to high-wage careers, and strengthens our state’s long-term prosperity. Workforce education is a crucial part of this effort,” said Gov. DeSantis. “We made historic investments in the career and technical education pathways that help young people prepare for in-demand jobs and attract investment our state. Florida is now the No. 1 state in the country for workforce education – years ahead of the 2030 target I set in my Executive Order.”

Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas regularly champions workforce education.

“Florida’s rise to the No. 1 state in the nation for workforce education is no accident. It reflects Governor DeSantis’ vision and strategic investment in expanding workforce pathways for students,” said Commissioner Kamoutsas. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has built a workforce education system that delivers outcomes, opens doors to high-wage careers, and strengthens the state’s long-term economic success.”