CF seeks $6M grant for health building – Ocala

Hospital District money would draw down state funds

The Marion County Hospital District trustees on Monday will consider making a $6 million commitment to the College of Central Florida a grant that would be the trustees' largest.

The money would help the college build a state-of-the-art health science center where students will be trained in nursing, emergency medical services, physical therapy, surgical support services and dental hygiene. The district commitment would put the college in a better position as it asks the Florida Legislature for another $23.7 million in matching funds.

The college request is sponsored by state Rep. Charlie Stone, R-Ocala. Even if CF can secure the $6 million commitment there is still no guarantee state lawmakers will fund their share.

CF President James Henningsen requested the Hospital District money earlier this week during the trustees' monthly grant committee meeting. The committee is made up of five trustees. The full board has seven members. The five trustees recommend approval of the request.

The colleges plan to create more room to train dental hygienists fits with one of the Hospital Districts goals: funding programs to provide more dental care to the adult poor.

Henningsens request for a district commitment comes at the 11th hour. He told the five trustees on the committee that the college originally had a donor lined up to provide the local match. But that donor instead gave $5 million to Florida State University.

We werent expecting to come to you at all, Henningsen told the committee. The lack of a $6 million commitment puts us at risk for securing the state money.

A district commitment would speak loudly to state lawmakers and show a local commitment to the project, said Robert Batsel, CF general counsel and director of government relations.

Henningsen said that expanding the colleges nursing, healthcare and dental programs fits with the districts goals of improving the health of Marion County.

While there is a local need for more nurses and other healthcare professionals, Trustee Sam McConnell told Henningsen and Batsel he wanted the training of dental assistants and hygienists to be a priority.

It would be right at the top of the list, Henningsen replied, adding that dental hygiene training would be second only to nursing education.

There are currently 225 associate degree nursing students enrolled at CF. The new building would allow that number to increase to 300, college spokeswoman Lois Brauckmuller told the Star-Banner on Wednesday.

The new facility would also allow the college to double its Bachelor of Science nursing program from the current 75 students to 150.

The college currently has 14 students in its dental assistant program. The new building would allow the college to start a dental hygiene program to include 30 students at any given time in the two-year program.

Henningsen said that if the Hospital District makes its financial commitment, and the state pays its share, the district could make its payments in conjunction with state payments or in a single lump sum.

If approved, the grant would far exceed any amount the Hospital District has awarded during its past two years of doling out money. Each year, for the past two years, it has awarded about $2 million per year to nonprofit organizations that work to improve local health.

The district has $212 million to work with money that Community Health Systems (CHS) paid as part of its agreement to lease Munroe Regional Medical Center. Trustees have pledged to annually dole out money earned from investing the CHS money. So far the money has generated about $18 million in returns.

Since the lease inception, and the districts funding of local healthcare initiatives, district trustees agreed they didnt want to dip into the principal lease payment. That principal, which now includes revenue from the sale of district property in addition to hospital revenues collected by CHS on behalf of the district, is now $232 million.

Trustee Rich Bianculli warned that in future years, the districts investments might not make any money, or may even lose money.

But the trustees agreed that as long as the investments were generating money long term, it was acceptable to see fluctuations in earnings.

The $6 million CF grant would not affect the district's other grants.

Though the five trustees on the grant committee have agreed to recommend that the full board approve CF's request, they also spelled out some conditions: The $6 million would be contingent on the Florida Legislature approving its share of $23.7 million; the dental hygiene program must be second only to the nursing program; each payment of that total $6 million would be made in conjunction with the states payment.

Henningsen also offered to let the district name the facility.

Mark Paugh, the colleges vice president of academic affairs, wrote in an email that if the district gives CF the money, the investment in the Health Science Technology Education Center will serve this community for generations through the education of future nurses, dental assistants and hygienists, radiographers and sonographers, respiratory therapists, and other health professionals, and as a hub for public health forums and speaker series.

The request for money is outside the districts regular grant request cycle. Grant applications are typically accepted beginning in the fall and the deadline is in December.

Earlier this year, The Centers sought $1 million to house people suspected of mental illness until they could be evaluated. The district declined the request and said, among other things, that such requests should be made with all the other requests for grant money.

Curt Bromund, Hospital District executive director, said CF's request was unique and reflected a longtime effort by the college and community to increase the number of healthcare workers, many of whom will remain in the area after graduating.

Trustee Chairman David Cope said that, considering how large the state contribution would be, the trustees must at least research CF's request.

And the credibility of CF is pretty well established, Cope said.

McDonnell said that in addition to generating more healthcare workers, those workers would also be out there disseminating the information (about improving ones health). Theyre disciples and apostles of improving health and dental hygiene.

Reach Fred Hiers at fred.hiers@starbanner.com and 352-397-5914.

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CF seeks $6M grant for health building - Ocala