Wednesday, October 2, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to Polk State College’s groundbreaking for its Haines City-Davenport Campus.
Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus Groundbreaking
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | Ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
39816 U.S. Highway 27
(at Olive Drive, Davenport, Florida)
Please RSVP to mfantozzi@polk.edu
Speakers will include Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, Polk State District Board of Trustees Chair Cindy Hartley Ross, Senator Colleen Burton, Representative Josie Tomkow, Polk County Commissioner Dr. Martha Santiago, Haines City Mayor Omar Arroyo, Davenport Mayor Brynn Summerlin, Polk State Dean of Health Sciences Beth Luckett, Polk State Radiography student Marcia Harvey Scarlett, and Polk State President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti.
The program is estimated to total one hour with a color guard, the pledge of allegiance, an invocation, brief remarks from each speaker, and the groundbreaking. Polk State is also celebrating 60 years of the college, which opened its doors to Polk County residents in 1964.
Media should arrive by 9:45 a.m. for staging purposes. A select number of speakers will be available for interviews following the program at the groundbreaking site. Media are asked to coordinate with Public Information Officer Madison Fantozzi to ensure interview time. Additionally, a media kit will be available for those who cannot attend.
The Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus is an approximately $51 million project to construct a 75,000-square-foot facility that will include Central Florida’s first public higher education interdisciplinary simulation hospital. In addition to a focus on health sciences, the campus will include hospitality and tourism management, supply chain and logistics, teacher education, and courses for 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. Additionally, Barney Barnett and the Barnett family have pledged $3 million, and the Polk State Foundation has raised approximately $130,000 through A Night of Legacy. Polk State continues to advocate for approximately $17.5 million to bring the campus to full fruition.
About Polk State College
Located in Winter Haven, Florida, and established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 14,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as 9,000 individuals in a wide range of certificate and workforce training programs. The College also operates three charter high schools.
Polk State’s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life, including fine arts opportunities, clubs, and intercollegiate athletics.