In signing the 2010-11 Florida state budget Friday, Gov. Charlie Crist approved $21.8 million for a new building at Valencia Community College’s Osceola campus, but vetoed $2 million for a roadway at Kissimmee Gateway Airport.The Florida Legislature during its session approved it and both were awaiting the governor’s signature.

In a May 13 News-Gazette article, college spokeswoman Lucy Boudet stated that the proposed building has not been designed yet nor has an architect been selected. However, she stated the approximately 108,000 square-foot building, which would house the library, classrooms and chemistry labs, would make it the largest on Valencia’s Osceola campus. Boudet also stated the building might include space for the University of Central Florida as part of the college’s Direct Connect to UCF guaranteed transfer program where students complete their four-year degree on the campus.

"Osceola' Valencia Campus is an important economic engine for Osceola County,” said state Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee. “The Library/Tech lab building is a vital step to recharging Osceola's economy.”

The $2 million for the airport, had it been approved, would have been about two-thirds of the $3.1 million needed to provide a roadway, drainage and utilities to a business park intended for aviation-related medium- and small-sized businesses. The proposed roadway, which would run east off Hoagland Boulevard, was designed to provide access to two hangars in the first phase of the business park’s development.