JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s planned graduate campus in downtown Jacksonville moved a step closer to reality after the Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously to approve the transfer of more than 20 acres of land in the LaVilla neighborhood and an additional $50 million in city funding.
The vote marks a significant public investment in higher education and economic development in Northeast Florida, bringing the city’s total contribution to the project to $100 million. Combined with state funding and private donations, UF has now secured $300 million for the new campus and its affiliated Florida Semiconductor Institute.
“The City Council’s vote today is a testament to a shared vision for the future for both UF and for Jacksonville,” said Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF Board of Trustees. “This investment will create a world-class campus that serves Jacksonville’s workforce, fuels innovation and expands opportunity for generations to come.”
The campus will focus on graduate-level education and applied research in areas critical to Jacksonville’s workforce, including business, health science, engineering, law, and architecture. A key component of the project is the Florida Semiconductor Institute, which aims to drive innovation and research in advanced technology fields.
City Council President Randy White praised the project as a long-term investment in Jacksonville’s future. “This is an investment of tax dollars that will pay dividends for decades,” he said.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan also voiced strong support, highlighting the city’s commitment to preparing its workforce for a technology-driven economy. “Our partnership with UF sends a clear signal that Jacksonville is at the forefront of innovation,” Deegan said.
UF plans to close on the LaVilla property later this summer. Site preparation is already underway, and the university expects to begin offering classes in an existing building in 2026, with design and construction of new facilities to begin later that year.
