ORLANDO, Fla. – Every little bit helps.
Tucked into the Florida budget that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed this week was $394,421 for the Pulse National Memorial.
Since the budget allocation survived DeSantis’ line-item veto, that money will now go to the city of Orlando, which is getting close to construction on a permanent memorial to the 49 people killed in the 2016 shooting.
“Any funding we can get, I’m happy to see it,” Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan told News 6 Wednesday. “It’s enough to add a little bit and it is what they promised us, so I appreciate them participating.”
[WATCH: A look inside Orlando’s Pulse shooting site, 9 years later]
The allocation amount has meaning for people close to the project — it’s the same amount the state gave the organization originally responsible for the memorial, onePulse Foundation, years ago.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, told News 6 earlier this year that the state got the money back when onePulse dissolved without completing the memorial in 2023.
“It was very important to me to ensure that the dollars went back towards their original purpose,” Eskamani said Wednesday. “That is why we worked diligently this year across the aisle to re-secure these funds.”
The budget request was not a sure thing, especially in a session marked by belt-tightening and intense debate over cutting taxes.
Even once the request got passed the Florida Legislature, there was still a chance Gov. DeSantis would use his power of line-item veto to remove the project from the budget.
State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, also worked on getting the money in the budget. He told News 6 earlier this year that getting the modest funding request passed was one of his priorities.
Smith gave News 6 this statement Wednesday:
“I’m grateful to the Florida Legislature for making good on its commitment to provide funding and support for the long-overdue Pulse Nightclub Memorial in Orlando. Ultimately, it is my hope that the memorial brings peace to the families and survivors of this horrific attack and ensures the 49 angels will never be forgotten.”
The city bought the Pulse property in 2023, determined to build a national memorial on the site of the nightclub, due to open in 2027. The city budgeted $12 million for the project’s design and construction.
The city has budgeted $7.5 million toward the permanent memorial. The city is also spending around $3 million to purchase property for the memorial, according to a June 3 workshop PowerPoint presentation sent by the city. That presentation can be viewed at the bottom of this story.
Last month, the Orange County Commission agreed to chip in $5 million.
This month, city commissioners are expected to begin the process of picking a firm to build the memorial, with construction starting next year.
Part of that project will include tearing down the nightclub building, which is expected to happen later this year. Families and survivors were allowed to go inside the site during memorial events last month.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer issued a statement to News 6, offering his thanks to the legislature and DeSantis.
“The City of Orlando is thankful to the appropriation sponsors, the House and Senate, and the Governor for their support of the victims, survivors, families and first responders impacted by the Pulse tragedy. Together we’ll ensure there’s a space that pays tribute to the 49 lives taken and helps families, survivors and our community honor, remember and reflect.”
[WATCH: Families, survivors go inside Pulse nightclub]
PulseMemorialWorkshop_June25-rev2 by Christie Zizo on Scribd