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POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk State College is one step closer to making its Haines City-Davenport campus a reality.
The college recently secured $10 million from the state’s budget to help fund construction costs.
Polk State President Angela Falconetti calls the Haines City-Davenport campus a dream come true. It will house the school’s health sciences programs, offer general education classes and feature an interdisciplinary simulation hospital.
Beth Luckett, dean of health sciences at Polk State College, said she has witnessed the department grow tremendously — so much so that they’ve outgrown their labs at each of the college’s campuses.
“So, by having the campus that all of our health science programs could be in at one time is just beyond imagination for all of us,” Luckett said.
Falconetti said construction is already underway on the nearly $51 million project. Thanks to the recent $10 million from the Florida Legislature, she said they are much closer to completion. She added that this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her staff.
“I’m very grateful to the leadership of our health sciences and nursing programs because they are making this very specific need across our country, but more importantly, our state and Polk County come to fruition,” Falconetti said.
As for Luckett, she credits Falconetti for the project’s success. Now, she s looking forward to continuing her life’s work — preparing the next generation of graduates for success.
“We’re growing, and we’re ready for them to come in,” she said.
Falconetti said the school still needs $7.5 million to complete the campus. If approved by the legislature next year, she expects to have it open by fall 2026.
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Alexis Jones
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