Polk State College secures $10 million for Haines City-Davenport Campus

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

2025 Legislative Session

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 2025-2026 state budget on Monday with Polk State College’s operational funding maintained, $10 million for the continued development of the Haines City-Davenport Campus and $6.1 million to complete the renovations of the Lakeland Academic Center.

These allocations bring Polk State College’s special appropriations to more than $100 million since 2017 – investments that have enabled the College to expand academic programs, reduce the advisor-to-student ratio and modernize aging infrastructure.

“These investments mark a pivotal moment in our mission to expand access to high-quality education and workforce training in Polk County,” Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti said. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Governor DeSantis and the Polk County Legislative Delegation for their hard work and unwavering advocacy. Their efforts have ensured critical support of our College as we serve one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions. I am also grateful to the Polk State District Board of Trustees, Polk State College Foundation Board of Directors, and our generous donors.”

The new Haines City-Davenport Campus – an approximately $51 million project – will house a 75,000-square-foot facility with a strong emphasis on workforce education, featuring Central Florida’s first public higher education interdisciplinary simulation hospital. In addition to advanced health sciences training, the campus will offer programs in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Supply Chain and Logistics, Teacher Education, and the Associate in Arts degree.

Polk State conducted a needs assessment in 2006 which resulted in the purchase of the 7.8-acre property on U.S. 27 in 2009. Polk State received $13.2 million in public education capital outlay (PECO) funding in 2022 to begin the development of the campus. In 2024, $8.1 million in PECO funding was allocated to the project. Polk State hosted the groundbreaking of the Haines City-Davenport Campus in November, and construction is underway. Site mobilization began in February, precast panels were poured in May, and panel tilt-up has started.

The College’s eighth location will primarily support Polk State’s renowned Health Sciences programs, which continue to surpass state and national licensure pass rates. Programs such as Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiography, Respiratory Care, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Paramedic consistently boast 100% licensure pass rates, producing graduates who are in high demand among area employers.

In addition to its strong performance in existing programs, Polk State continues to innovate with the launch of new offerings in recent years, including in Crime Scene Investigations, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Human Resource Management. The College is also preparing to introduce a Welding Program, made possible by a $2.8 million Florida Job Growth Grant awarded in June.