Carlos Guillermo Smith touts $8.5M in funding in state budget, including UCF building

Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith says he secured funding for 16 projects worth about $8.5 million to help Central Floridians.

The biggest single project that Smith spearheaded was $5 million for the University of Central Florida to construct a 100,000-square-foot Workforce Entrepreneurship Resource eXchange building to support workforce readiness and entrepreneurship.

The Orlando Business Journal reported last year that the building would house teaching labs, classrooms, maker spaces, an entrepreneur incubator and space for UCF to collaborate with outside businesses on the main campus. Smith’s funding requested described the facility as a place where “higher education and employers co-locate to spark discovery, strengthen workforce pipelines, and turn ideas into real-world impact.”

His other funding requests that advanced included $500,000 for the greater Malibu Groves neighborhood in Orange County to get older homes rehabbed for low-to-moderate income residents; $450,000 for The Autism Theatre Project; and $225,000 for Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando to give financial support and support students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Other projects include helping to feed people, supporting sexual abuse victims and $99,000 for Colonial High students get a FAA Private Pilot Certificate while still in high school.

The Legislature passed a $114.5 billion budget Friday, though Gov. Ron DeSantis still holds line-item veto power, allowing him to ax individual projects when he signs the budget.

“It’s probably a safe assumption that when I’m done with my veto pen that it’ll be less than the current year budget,” DeSantis said last month.

Smith also teamed up with Rep. Anna Eskamani to get $400,000 for a statewide business program for entrepreneurs, $350,000 for Belle Isle City Police Department, $200,000 for Samaritan Resource Center, $127,500 to study constructing an indoor Olympic Skate Park training facility.

In addition to his local projects, Smith touted his work in the Legislature pushing for water safety and fighting for funding to help low-income Floridians pay for their HIV/AIDS medication, both of which were funded in the state budget.

“I’m proud of the work we did this session to successfully secure funding for 16 local projects to improve the lives of hardworking families in Central Florida,” the Orlando Democrat said. “From support for workforce development programs, to combating food insecurity and deserts, and swimming lessons to prevent child drowning, we prioritized the needs of local underserved communities.”