North Florida Mega Industrial Park (NFMIP), is fortunate to call Lake City and Columbia County home for many reasons, one of which is the proximity to two outstanding colleges and one highly ranked university. All three post-secondary institutions offer well-rounded opportunities for students, faculty and staff alike.
Florida Gateway College is an outstanding partner for workforce development and ongoing training. Located directly adjacent to NFMIP, Florida Gateway College provides business and industrial programs including administration, engineering technology, logistics and supply chain management. The college’s mission is to provide an individualized educational experience for each student. Florida Gateway College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and associate degrees.
Santa Fe College, with a number-one ranking of all two-year colleges by The Aspen Institute, is dedicated to economic development for the area. The Center for Innovation and Economic Development custom-designs short, long and e-learning online courses for professionals, businesses, industries and governments. In all its programs, the college offers classes to suit the schedules of students, with flexible semesters, early morning and evening options and Saturday classes. Santa Fe College sends more transfers to University of Florida than any other institution.
Speaking of University of Florida (UF), NFMIP is only 45 miles to one of the most prestigious, research-focused universities in the country. UF is ranked #5 of the Top Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to UF’s expansive selection of colleges and programs, the Office of Industrial Outreach connects industry with the university’s world-class talent and resources through successful collaboration and meaningful, invaluable partnerships. Through the Florida High Tech Corridor, UF offers joint research funding opportunities and training for academic entrepreneurs, provide licensing opportunities for companies, facilitate the commercialization process, and coordinate networking and technical assistance to support the development of companies and technologies in the region. UF has helped launch more than 190 startups based on researchers’ technologies in the past 15 years.
