A milestone moment in expanding higher education in the Upper Keys was reached on March 11.
College of the Florida Keys administrators, staff and board members gathered with construction officials and other community members for a “topping out” ceremony that celebrated another step in bringing more academic and training opportunities to people and business in the Upper Keys. With the concrete structure up, and with inside work underway, the the Upper Keys Center at MM 106 in Key Largo is on schedule to welcome staff and students for the fall semester in August.
“It’s really a tremendous dream come true,” said Stephanie Scuderi, president of the board for the College of the Florida Keys. “Over the past six years I’ve been involved with the college, the amount of support from the Upper Keys community specifically and the momentum has been crazy. As the building has come up, there’s been so much support from the county, Ocean Reef, private members and residents. “
The $20 million-project received support with a $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as other public and private donations. In March 2020, the board of county commissioners voted to allocate $250,000 for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years toward the Upper Keys Center. In January 2020, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay presented Gueverra with a $100,000 check. Money came from drug-related funds.
“It gives the sheriff’s office the opportunity to have criminal justice for our law enforcement officers in the north end, and our friends in south Dade who want to come down here and get certified,” Ramsay said. I’m excited for the citizens of Monroe who live in the north end who don’t have the opportunity to drive to Key West. They can be close to home, work their day job and come here and get educated to better fulfill their futures.”
The college plans to expand five existing programs in the Upper Keys: nursing, emergency medical technician, marine environmental technology, public safety (law enforcement and corrections academies), and apprenticeships. In addition, the college plans to develop new programs there, including: marine resource management, paramedic, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy and construction technologies.
“For so many of our young people, especially, they have to go so much further away to get the look and feel of a college campus and the degrees and programs they deserve,” Guevarra said. “For so many adults, there’s so many things you just don’t want to do online. Here’s an opportunity for us.”
Construction of the facility is being led by Thornton Construction Company.
