Jacksonville donates 20 acres for $300M university campus and semiconductor research

Jacksonville is donating more than 20 acres of land in the LaVilla neighbourhood to the University of Florida for a new downtown campus, backed by a major public and private investment. The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved the land transfer and an additional $50 million in funding, taking the city’s total contribution to $100 million. According to the University of Florida, the wider UF Jacksonville project has attracted $300 million in investment so far, including state funding and local philanthropy, with further support for the Florida Semiconductor Institute. The campus is expected to offer graduate programmes in fields including engineering, health science, business, law and architecture, while developing semiconductor research in the city.How is the $300 million campus project moving forwardThe land transfer covers approximately 20 acres in LaVilla, an area of downtown Jacksonville that will become the site of the planned university campus. After the city council’s approval on 25 June 2025, the University of Florida said it would proceed with closing on the property later that summer. The university described the decision as a major step forward for its Jacksonv...