House Budget Cuts to EASE Grants May Hurt Florida's Technology Landscape

Florida business leaders and employers participated in a discussion with university presidents in the state on Thursday to discuss how the House of Representatives' recent budget proposal, which includes a $4 billion cut, would affect higher education for Florida students and others, who rely on Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grants.

Specifically, EASE cuts could have a major impact on Florida's business and technology economy. According to a release, the grants help create 79,529 jobs each year and more than $10 billion in economic revenue for the state each year.

Additionally, every dollar spent on EASE creates $3.83 in tax revenue, making it one of the most cost-effective educational programs in Florida.

Therefore, any apparent cuts to students could have a seismic effect on the state's technology edge in the future, specifically as it looks to lead over other states in the field.

"We need that talent pipeline to be able to continue the good work, and continue evolving as well with technology. It is just really, really important that we have the student numbers and the graduate numbers to come into the workforce and to be able to help our local businesses, as well as regional and national to be able to fulfill that obligation," Katrina Claydon, vice president of operations at East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, told The Floridian.

Business members who participated included Jason Druding, vice president of business services at CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas; Scott Dimmick, senior vice president and chief human resource officer at Lakeland Regional Health; and Patricia Keeney, executive director of patient experience and clinical engagement at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

They were joined by presidents from the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). The ICUF includes President Bob Boyd, St. Thomas University President David Armstrong, and Keiser University Chancellor Arthur Keiser.

Armstrong added the importance of keeping EASE for Florida's technology sector. It could also impact its vital healthcare industry.

In previous House sessions under Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state kept the grants and even added some vouchers. Given so, Armstrong hopes the state does a bit of rethinking.

"The state knows that we need it, and now we're cutting it again. It makes no sense," Armstrong said.

EASE Grants help ICUF students pay their tuition at qualified, independent, non-profit colleges and universities.

Any cuts could have drastic effects, resulting in more than 21,000 students at 15 Florida universities losing access to these grants, including specifically at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It also may cause higher tuition rates.

They also would predominantly affect low-income students, who often juggle multiple jobs to afford college in the first place, including in Florida.