Jacksonville College, Palm Coast announce wellbeing treatment training campus expansion

The Palm Coast Town Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a partnership with Jacksonville University to make an off-web-site campus with a aim on wellness treatment schooling in the city’s Town Center.

© Bob Self/Personnel Photographer
Jacksonville University President Tim Cost in the vicinity of the front entrance of JU together College Blvd. Monday, November 27, 2017. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union)

Palm Coastline officials proposed an economic development investment decision in the undertaking totaling $2.5 million: a $1.5 million allocation from general fund reserves and a $1 million forgivable effectiveness mortgage from the Palm Coastline Point out Road 100 Group Redevelopment Agency, according to town paperwork. 

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Palm Coastline City Supervisor Matt Morton stated the employees thinks designating an off-web-site campus in the innovation district will deliver economic growth and lead to the academic expansion of the group.

“This approach meets the health treatment workforce desires in the spot that was documented in the UNF MedNexus prepare and our partnership with a lot of nearby wellness treatment establishments,” Morton claimed. “This will straight impression creating a workforce to fulfill health and fitness treatment work needs.”

The campus is envisioned to enroll up to 50 learners in its first startup in fall 2021, with a whole enrollment of up to 150 students within just 24 months, according to JU. A ton of the nursing curriculum programs are not offered in the area, or are provided but are unable to meet projected demand from customers, and represent some of the speediest-growing health and fitness treatment occupations in the nation, JU claimed.

“With demand from customers for wellness treatment pros expected to increase 14 per cent in the next ten years, and a absence of local graduate courses devoted to educating highly developed specialized overall health care pros, this investment arrives at a crucial time,” JU President Tim Cost reported.

Morton resolved the timing of the partnership at the summary of the presentation.

“The very best leaders in governing administration have ongoing to pivot,” he said. “They have ongoing to adapt and go on to find paths ahead, even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I consider that’s a action in that route to continue on to advance on the money entrance. This is not going to be recurring bucks. JU [Jacksonville University] is mindful of that.”

Morton claimed the proposal will not maximize taxes.

“We will not be creating indebtedness to this proposal,” he claimed. “We believe it also commences to tackle the worry that has been extensive held in this county of shifting the tax burden absent from the millage and our solitary-loved ones residences toward company, towards marketplace, towards financial system and towards education.”

Some council users shared their comments on what this partnership signifies to the city.

“It really is heading to increase the functionality to our people and our youth to be ready to remain in Palm Coastline and to thrive,” said Councilman Nick Klufas. “I consider the complete benefit will be felt across the range of our full group. I would also like to thank our mayor for pushing this merchandise ahead. Any other town would long for this chance.”

Voting against the partnership, Councilman Ed Danko mentioned the $2.5 million rate tag is too steep and now just isn’t the ideal time for this kind of a project.

“We’re in the midst of a pandemic, COVID-19,” Danko mentioned. “A lot of our companies have lost profits. A good deal of our taxpayers have dropped their careers or share of their revenue. Our individual town personnel took a 10 percent fork out slash due to the fact of COVID-19. So, I just assume this is a terrific idea, but it is the incorrect time for our city to arrive at in our pocket and do an additional MedNex.”

The Florida Moments-Union contributed to this report.

This report originally appeared on The Daytona Beach front News-Journal: Jacksonville University, Palm Coastline announce wellness treatment training campus expansion