Gov. Rick Scott today signed a state budget into law that includes $17 million to begin relocating the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine to downtown Tampa. The budget also included $12.3 million to complete construction of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business facility.
The state’s capital project funding for MCOM is part of a long-term process that will strengthen the university’s presence in downtown’s business district and allow USF Health to expand essential educational and research programs at its main campus location. The new medical school will be built with a combination of state and private funding.
“I would like to thank Governor Scott for approving the funding for two major capital projects that will improve the educational experiences of University of South Florida System students and the economic vitality of the Tampa Bay region for years to come,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft said. “Thanks to the hard work of our local legislators, and with Governor Scott’s approval today, USF St. Petersburg will complete the construction of its new Kate Tiedemann College of Business facility in time for the Fall 2016 semester, and USF will embark on its next major transformative project, the USF Health in downtown Tampa initiative.”
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, joined USF President Judy Genshaft in thanking Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for their vision in advancing the establishment of the Morsani College of Medicine in downtown Tampa, co-located with the USF Health Heart Institute.
“We are also grateful for the generosity of Jeff Vinik, and the support of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the Hillsborough County Commissioners, the Florida Board of Governors, the USF Board of Trustees, and our many community partners,” Dr. Lockwood said. “We look forward to being a key anchor for a thriving downtown redevelopment project — one that will bring together superior medical education, clinical care and research to transform health care, accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation, and help drive Tampa’s future economic growth.”
For more information on the USF Health Downtown project, please visit http://www.usf.edu/downtown/
