Donor to Honor $12 Mil. Pledge

BARTOW | Clear Springs developer Stanford Phelps is standing by his $12 million contribution to Polk Community College for a satellite campus in Bartow, even though the state Legislature decided not to provide matching funds for the project.

Phelps, a Connecticut financier, also donated 20 acres of his Clear Springs land for the college site, and he reiterated his commitment to that contribution, as well in a letter this week to PCC President Eileen Holden.

"Eileen, I know that you have worked very hard toward the realization of this vital project and I have every confidence in your ability to see the Center through to fruition. I, along with Clear Springs' staff, remain available to support and assist in any way possible."

Eighteen community colleges sought a cumulative $46.2 million in matching funds for contributions in this year's legislative session.

The Legislature, citing a tight budget, provided $8.8 million for five of the colleges. None of the money was channeled to Polk Community College.

In his letter, Phelps not only said he would honor his contribution, but asked college administrators to proceed with the initial phase, including design and engineering, of the Advanced Global Technology Center.

The center is to house PCC's Corporate College training program, along with other business-related initiatives.

College administrators have agreed to present a preliminary proposal toward launching the project within the next two months.

Holden was out of state and not available for comment.

Tracy Porter, executive director of the Polk Community College Foundation, said she's not surprised that Phelps is honoring his commitment.

"Stan is very passionate about PCC, and I always believed that he would stay with us until the state found the money," she said. "We have full faith that when the state's economy turns around, that Stan will be pleased with the outcome."

State Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, said he's confident the state will come through with the matching grant in coming years.

"We always ultimately have funded the matching list," he said Tuesday. "This happens every once in a while, when we have to defer projects, but we never have not funded them."

The state's facility enhancement challenge grant program provides matching funds for capital improvement contributions.

Phelps' $12 million contribution represents the largest gift to any community college through this program, McKeel said.

Clear Springs is a proposed 18,000-acre project sweeping along Bartow's eastern and southern boundaries. Plans for the project include residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural development, along with a research park encircling the college campus on State Road 60 East.

Local and state planning administrators are currently reviewing a development proposal for the total 18,000 acres.

If completed, the project will be the largest development in Polk County.

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. ]