$367,000,000. That’s how much funding has been spared for Polk County via the state’s $101,500,000,000 budget.
Let’s break it down starting at the millions:
- $56,400,000 is gifted to Florida Polytechnic University for operational purposes as well as completing their new Applied Research Center.
- $36,000,000 is awarded to Polk County Public Schools, which will be broken up and distributed for academic assistance, technology assistance, recruiting students, and more.
- $35,700,000 is budgeted for Polk’s roadways + other construction projects.
- $34,000,000 is contributed towards early learning + pre-kindergarten programs.
- $23,300,000 is awarded to Polk State College as operational funding, as well as for building renovations and a couple million for their Winter Haven Campus.
- $17,000,000 goes to The Department of Citrus’ funding, including $500,000 for development and $8,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
- $7,000,000 goes to the Polk Regional Water Cooperative to conserve and improve Polk’s water.
- $5,800,000 is granted to Southeastern University.
- $4,500,000 is granted to Florida Southern College.
- $2,200,000 is allotted to Lakeland Regional Health for its graduate medical education program as well as its planned behavioral health unit.
- $1,600,000 towards the Lakeland Area Mass Transit.
- $1,500,000 awarded to Warner University.
- $1,300,000 granted to Webber International University.
- $1,000,000 gifted to Gilbert Airport in Winter Haven for security gating and appropriate fencing.
- $850,000 allocated for Peace River Center
- $650,000 granted to One More Child
- $500,000 awarded to the Polk County Agriculture Center and Extension Complex
- $76,000 gifted to Bok Tower Gardens
- $74,000 is granted to The Polk Museum of Art
- $64,000 is allocated for Theatre Winter Haven
Disclaimer: The uses of some of the listed amounts above are currently unlisted. The team will update this information when those details come available.