On Wednesday, the Florida Cabinet approved a $19.1 million purchase of commercial office space adjacent to the University of Central Florida to avoid losing the U.S. Department of Defense’s employees involved in simulation, modeling, and technology training, in addition to cyber security efforts, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
The UCF Board of Governors approved the request for the purchase of land in May. Now that the OK has been given, the 10-acres of offices will be managed by UCF.
Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed the measure to purchase the land but would be outvoted by three other Florida Cabinet members – Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
The Naval Support Center Orlando hosts training and technology simulation for federal employees with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies, according to the Sentinel.
“Unfortunately, the base infrastructure cannot accommodate a workforce that has grown to 2,800 federal employees. As a result, non-Navy tenant organizations must rely on 200,000 square feet of leased office space at a cost of $5.4 million a year,” said CEO for the National Center for Simulation Tom Baptiste.
The purchase by UCF will allow agencies to collaborate while also preventing the relocation of employees during the Department of Defense’s next round of reorganization.
