Following a vote by Florida’s Legislative Budget Committee, 13 Polk County organizations have been awarded a share of $6.2 million in local grant funding.
Keep reading for a by-the-numbers look at how each organization, eight of which are right here in Lakeland, will put their grant to work.
Lakeland recipients
- $950,000 — Lakeland Se7en Wetlands’ new water education center will be a space for outreach programs, professional trainings, and citizen engagement.
- $866,651 — Peace River Center will get new IT infrastructure and increased cyber security.
- $808,600 — New Beginnings High School will further its academic offerings with new innovation labs .
- $457,500 — Pathways School of Excellence at Southeastern University will purchase a residential property where students can hone practical skills, known as the LifeSkills House .
- $450,000 — Aerospace Center for Excellence and Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo will use funds for a resiliency plan designed to plan for the program’s future success.
- $300,000 — One More Child will provide mentoring, activities, prevention programs, and life skills in its new health education program .
- $247,500 — Lakeland will get an upgraded SewerCAD model .
- $100,000 — Lakeland’s police and youth mentoring program will build relationships between local youth + police officers.
- $5 million — In addition to its Lakeland impact, One More Child received funds for a Sarasota campus .
Quote via Southeastern University
Image via @seuniversity, Graphic by 6AM City
Polk County recipients
- $700,000 — Fort Meade will get a new fire engine to replace an existing 1986 engine.
- $500,000 — Heartland for Children, Inc. will use funds to support respite care and placement for Polk County children.
- $500,000 — Lake Clinch in Frostproof will get necessary upgrades to outdated stormwater drainage systems as well as shoreline stabilization support.
- $250,000 — The Fort Meade area will get a multi-use emergency shelter , also functioning as a non-emergency equestrian center.
- $103,380 — Fort Meade will get refurbished tennis + pickleball courts .