Florida lawmakers to provide $394K for Pulse memorial
Florida lawmakers have agreed to provide $394,000 in state funding for a memorial honoring the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre.
The city of Orlando is planning a $12 million remembrance with a reflection pool, visitor pavilion, tribute wall and healing garden at the site of the former LGBTQ club.
The rampage at the club killed 49 people, wounded 53 others and at the time was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Thursday marks the ninth anniversary of the shooting.
Efforts to build a memorial began as a private campaign, which collapsed amid infighting. Now, government agencies have assumed responsibility for the undertaking with the goal of beginning construction in the summer of 2026.
Pulse memorial gets $5 million pledge from Orange County
Legislative budget leaders agreed Tuesday to commit state dollars to the project. The money was initially given to the onePULSE Foundation, the private group behind the memorial. The foundation agreed to repay the funds after it went defunct, according to the Florida Department of State.
'Ever since that happened, we have been working to bring these funds back for a memorial in Orlando,' said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.
Earlier this month, Orange County pledged $5 million to support the project in addition to the $7.5 million budgeted by Orlando. City officials were pleased that the state also wants to contribute, Orlando spokeswoman Ashley Papagni said Wednesday in a prepared statement.
'We are thankful to the appropriation sponsors and House and Senate leadership for their support of the victims, survivors, families, and first responders impacted by the Pulse tragedy,' she said.
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