Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $75 million for UF’s proposed Jacksonville campus amid half-a-million dollar budget vetoes.
DeSantis’ decision to approve the campus for Florida’s 2023-2024 budget follows his public support for the proposed campus.
Most people leave Gainesville when they graduate, DeSantis said.
“Well, if they’re going to move, they can move to Atlanta or Charlotte just as easily as they can Jacksonville or Miami or wherever,” he said.
Florida lawmakers voted to provide $75 million for the development of a UF graduate campus in Jacksonville in May.
The campus is intended to provide programs to support the growing workforce needs in biomedical technology. Its programs focus on pioneering technology related to simulation, health applications of artificial intelligence, patient quality and safety, health care administration and technology.
The 15-acre campus is expected to house 10,000 grad students at an undetermined location, according to News4Jax.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are willing to front $5 million for the campus to help UF meet the required local fundraising requirement. The Jaguars also offered 14-acre Fairgrounds space next to the stadium to the campus.
The project began with a proposed $50 million investment from the Jacksonville City Council and $50 million in private funding, according to a Feb. 7 UF press release. However, the council raised $20 million, which left the Florida state legislature as the next attempt at gaining the necessary funds.
Contact Sally at sbrown@alligator.org.
