State lawmakers approve $175M in federal dollars on local projects
A state budget panel has approved $175 million through a new local spending initiative that will fund 238 projects, including some similar to those vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis and the Legislature approved the Local Support Grants Program this year to allow lawmakers another avenue to secure grants for local projects using federal dollars. Lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Budget Commission approved the list of projects Friday, which included items as large as $15 million.
That $15 million project, which will go to the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus for a flood hub and applied research facility, is one of many projects that were similar to projects DeSantis vet...
