**UPDATE**
RIVEROAK receives $4M for healthcare expansion
Florida legislators present $4M check to RIVEROAK Technical College. L-R: Karin Hoffman from Key Innovative Solutions, Suwannee County School Board Chairman Jerry Taylor, Senator Corey Simon, State Representative Jason Shoaf, Suwannee County Superintendent Ted Roush, RIVEROAK Principal and Director Mary Keen and former Senator Rene Garcia. -SVT Photo by Tami Stevenson
A press release from RIVEROAK Technical College was issued, Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and is here below:
Live Oak, Florida – Suwannee County School District Superintendent Ted Roush and Members of the School Board welcomed state Senator Simon and state Representative Shoaf as community leaders gathered for a check presentation on Monday, August 7, 2023, at RIVEROAK Technical College. The $4,000,000 appropriation from the state of Florida will be used to expand RIVEROAK’s healthcare training programs to address the growing healthcare needs of area residents and hospitals and other employers. With an additional facility, it is projected that RIVEROAK will triple enrollment in healthcare programs.
The appropriation benefits all postsecondary career certificate programs as additional classroom and laboratory space will afford the college to grow and expand current and future training programs. RIVEROAK will be better poised to generate the talent pool for in demand careers within the college’s service area and state of Florida.
RIVEROAK’s manufacturing, construction, and cybersecurity programs will be paramount in serving aerospace and related industries in Florida as the college continues to develop its partnership with Space Florida. The college’s current collaboration with Associated Builders and Contractors East Coast will afford opportunities to provide an array of apprenticeship programs throughout North Florida, Central Florida, and the Panhandle. RIVEROAK’s expansion benefits everyone
Superintendent Roush shared, “I, along with our School Board, are extremely appreciative of the efforts of Representative Jason Shoaf, Senator Corey Simon, Commissioner Manny Diaz, and the support of Governor Ron DeSantis, in our effort to secure funding for the RIVEROAK Technical College medical programs expansion in the amount of $4,000,000.00.
We are incredibly appreciative for our industry partners, CareerSource, Karin Hoffman and the team at Key Innovative Solutions, Mary Keen, SCSD Director of Career and Technical Education, and her team, along with our entire CTE group of stakeholders, who helped formulate and articulate the plans to help make this expansion a reality.
This call for funding has answered the need expressed from the medical services industry! Great job to all!”.
Under the leadership of Senator Simon, the Senator remarked, “We are pushing people into the 21st Century economy and we are propelling them to a place where they can earn a great living”.
RIVEROAK Technical College will continue its mission in service to students, and Representative Shoaf shared, “When you provide career opportunities and training opportunities, you foster that dream and lifts those out of poverty”.
“Thank you Representative Shoaf and Senator Simon for your leadership, dedication, and commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in our community. This appropriation will pave the way for countless individuals to access quality healthcare education and positively impact our healthcare industry.”, said Mary Keen, Principal of RIVEROAK Technical College.
Today, August 7, RIVEROAK Technical College received a check from the State of Florida through Senator Corey Simon and Representative Jason Shoaf for $4M for healthcare expansion. Look for the full story in the next print edition. -SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson
-SVT Photo
Visitors enjoyed a great spread. -SVT Photo
Look for the full story in the next print edition of the Suwannee Valley Times.
