When Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $311 million in grants to improve Florida infrastructure in storm-affected counties Dec. 18, 2025, just one Alachua County entity made the list. Santa Fe College received a $5 million grant to repair its gym after it sustained damage during multiple hurricanes within the past four years.
The gym sustained damage during hurricanes Idalia, Helene, Debbie and Milton, leaving it with a water intrusion through the roof and water-soaked walls and floors, according to a press release. Once water intrusion issues are fixed, Santa Fe expects to install newer bleachers.
John Hooker, Santa Fe’s associate vice president of government and community relations, has seen the grant process develop since last Fall.
“The nice thing about this grant is it will allow us to now actually make more substantial improvements moving forward,” Hooker said.
The gym, over 50 years old, has a boiler-chiller system, or centralized heating and cooling system, connected to other buildings. Because the gym relies on other buildings for air conditioning, it can’t be used for storm relief. That will change after the upcoming repairs.
Hooker said these repairs will safeguard against water damage, power outages and storm-related destruction from future hurricanes. The grant is also scheduled to go toward a new generator to make the gym a stand-alone facility.
No events held in the gym needed to be canceled due to storm damage, Hooker said.
Mariana Haas, a 19-year-old Santa Fe international business sophomore and women’s volleyball outside hitter, said she is excited to see her “second home” improve.
“It’s a place that I love so much. I’m always there, and a lot of athletes are always there, and also regular students too,” Haas said. “So I was very happy, because it’s like home.”
With athletes spending a majority of their time in the facility, being comfortable while training is important for them, Haas said. She believes the improvements and repairs to the gym will make it stronger for her and other athletes coming in.
“It’s such a great facility; when you have that, you’re kind of motivated to go to practice,” Haas said.
Lisa Brosky, associate vice president of marketing and communications at Santa Fe, said she is delighted to see the gym is finally getting repaired after four years.
With the big events hosted in the gymnasium, Brosky said, it’s important for the facility to function properly.
“We really value this role that we can play in the community, and having the right facilities to support them was critical to us,” Brosky said.
Brosky said the comprehensive repairs will be substantial for the future of the gymnasium.
“We’re catching it at a good time, before things got so bad that people were noticing on a daily basis,” Brosky said.
Contact Lilianne Fernandez at lfernandez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @ltfernandez8.
Lilianne is a first-year English student and the University desk's Spring 2026 Santa Fe reporter. In her free time, she enjoys going on runs, hanging out with friends, or listening to music.
