Gov. Schwarzenegger on Friday awarded more than $2.7 million to registered-nurse training programs.

The funds -- $364,947 went to California State University, Fresno -- were made available through the Song-Brown program, which is administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

“These programs help nursing students by providing them more opportunities to pursue careers in nursing and help communities by directing more services to medically underserved areas across the state,” the governor said in a statement. “This is also a part of my long-term commitment to address California’s nursing shortages by helping to expand nursing programs and improve the supply of qualified nurses in our state.”

Since 2003, the Song-Brown program has awarded almost $29 million to health professions education and training programs throughout the state.