Florida Poly lands full funding in state budget, with $19M to fuel growth

Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s youngest public higher education institution and the only dedicated STEM university, has drawn down full funding in the upcoming state budget, with $19 million included.

The full funding was included in the approved budget, and survived Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen when he signed the budget.

The $19 million includes $10 million for the construction of a new Student Achievement Center; $7.5 million for Florida Poly’s Rising to 3,000 initiative, which aims to reach 3,000 students enrollment by 2030; and $1.5 million for school operational support.

“We are extremely grateful to Gov. DeSantis and the Polk County legislative delegation for supporting this important investment in Florida Poly and for his continued support of higher education, workforce development, and student opportunity in our state,” Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson said.

“This funding highlights the critical role our University plays in preparing the next generation of engineers and technology leaders, sending a clear message that Florida Poly’s model is delivering results and that our momentum is accelerating.”

The $10 million for the Student Achievement Center adds to previous state funding of nearly $28 million. The funding is earmarked for a 138,400 square-foot facility to provide a suite of services and resources to students, such as academic support, career planning, professional development and engagement opportunities.

“Florida Poly was created to meet Florida’s need for a high-tech workforce, and this investment reinforces that mission,” said Beth Kigel, Chair of Florida Poly’s Board of Trustees.

“As we continue expanding strong partnerships with industry and applied research opportunities, we are ensuring our graduates are prepared to solve real-world challenges and help drive Florida’s economic growth.”

In addition to the $19 million included in the budget, Florida Poly also learned this week it had achieved the largest one-year performance gain among all state universities, positioning it to draw down $11 million in performance-based funding in the state budget. The school earned an 87 out of 100 on the metric, a 13-point improvement from the previous year.

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Florida Polytechnic University is a strategic advertising partner of Extensive Enterprises, the holding company which owns Florida Politics.