County Administrator Jeff Rogers updated the board on the status of the Dr. Dennis Wilfong Center for Success at the regular meeting on May 24, 2022. The $28.4 million complex is scheduled to open in March 2025.
The Dr. Dennis Wilfong Center for Success is a partnership between the Hernando County School District (HCSD), Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC), and the Hernando County Government. The county’s share of the cost is $11.4 million.
Rogers credited Carla Rossiter-Smith, the county’s Grants and Operations Performance Coordinator with finding an additional $6.1 million grant. Before Rossiter-Smith was hired by the county, she attended a meeting with Rogers and later suggested that he apply for the grant.
Master Planning for the site began in July 2021 and was completed in September 2021. As of this writing, the following has been completed: an infrastructure design contract has been awarded and rezoning completed. Site surveys, soil tests, and traffic studies have also been done. In February 2022 fencing was completed. Also completed this year were infrastructure plans, and a SWFWMD (South West Florida Water Management District) stormwater permit was submitted.
The commencement of Infrastructure construction is planned for December of this year. The bidding process is anticipated to begin in August. Construction bidding is anticipated to begin in November 2023, and construction of the buildings in March 2024.
This month (May 2022), architect interviews were conducted and proposals have been submitted. Also to be completed this month are the development of a sign concept commemorating Dr. Dennis Wilfong, and the identification of a site monument sign location with electricity and fiber optic connections showing three prominent spaces for the HCSD, PHSC, and the Hernando County Government Center.
