Florida A&M College has requested funds to additional enhance Bragg Memorial Stadium from the Blueprint Intergovernmental Company (BIA), which is comprised of the Metropolis of Tallahassee and Leon County Commissions. The assembly which started with a concentrate on reasonably priced housing, turned to Bragg Stadium infrastructure after a quick intermission.
Commissioners debated the request and in the end determined to additional the ask and discover a means by means of funding from the Workplace of Financial Vitality (OEV). The vote solely had one adverse vote in Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe, who questioned if the residents of Tallahassee and Leon County envisioned stadium spending after they accredited BIA funding and the related gross sales tax. FAMU Vice President of the Basis Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud offered a compelling argument for FAMU’s request. She cited the financial impression of FAMU soccer video games.
FAMU acquired funding in 2021 to renovate the stadium
In 2021, FAMU was granted $10 million to renovate the stadium because it was in dire want of upgrades. Engineers had threatened to render Bragg uninhabitable if it didn’t instantly make infrastructure enhancements and improve ADA entry. BIA instantly gave FAMU the $10 million and the stadium was up to date in lots of facets. Nonetheless, inflated building prices popping out of the pandemic which escalated metal prices, prevented any enhancements to the bogs and concessions areas. These have been the main focus of the current ask.
The preliminary movement was withdrawn by FAMU graduate and Metropolis of Tallahassee Metropolis Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox. After going by means of the method, it was decided that this course of was totally different than FAMU had accomplished previously. Commissioners have been cut up on the significance of non-emergency expenditures. The primary grant to FAMU was an emergency. This request was for long-needed infrastructure enhancements that weren’t funded beforehand.
Howard grad was on the forefront of pushing for funding
Leon County Commissioner Invoice Proctor, a Howard College graduate, referenced FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson’s letter dated September 23, 2023. Robinson’s request was for well being and security issues. Proctor insisted that different objects that the company had accredited ought to be trimmed to permit FAMU’s request. “We must always make this facility tight and proper as a result of the ROI is substantial,” Proctor stated.
“We don’t have to attend til Moses comes again,” Cox stated. “FAMU can’t look ahead to down the road for this funding. I’m open to artistic financing. They want cash to do the belongings you see listed right here so we are able to proceed to be a nationwide championship venue.”
Jeremy Matlow, a metropolis commissioner, forwarded ideas about artistic methods to provide the funding. Leon County commissioner Christian Caban additionally looked for non-traditional methods to supply the funding, citing its significance to tourism and tax {dollars} collected from residence video games. They each have been clearly within the spirit of making an attempt to make the enterprise occur. Matlow identified that the company had bonded the cash to provide Florida State’s $27 million request, which he vehemently opposed; however, since FSU was funded that means then BIA ought to have a look at the identical financing construction for the FAMU request.
