State funding will support planning and development of a permanent home for Florida's largest professional orchestra
TAMPA, FL — Shumaker Advisors Florida has helped secure $500,000 in state funding for The Florida Orchestra, marking an important step toward planning for a permanent home for one of Tampa Bay's most prominent cultural institutions.
Shumaker Advisors' Jim Taylor and Alan Suskey worked to advance the funding request during the 2026 legislative process. The $500,000 appropriation will support the next phase of planning for The Florida Orchestra's home, including expert consulting and architectural and engineering services needed to evaluate and plan a Center for Music and Education Innovation.
The state funding request was sponsored by Senator Darryl Rouson in the Florida Senate and Representative Kimberly Berfield in the Florida House of Representatives. State records describe the project as a permanent home for The Florida Orchestra and identify planning needs, including the creation of educational spaces, market analysis, fundraising, cost estimating, architecture, and engineering.
"This funding is an investment not only in The Florida Orchestra but in the cultural and economic future of the Tampa Bay region," said Jim Taylor, Vice President, Shumaker Advisors Florida. "A permanent home will give the orchestra an opportunity to expand its impact, and we are proud to have worked alongside Senator Rouson, Representative Berfield, and The Florida Orchestra to help move this vision forward."
The Florida Orchestra is the largest full-time professional orchestra in Florida and the largest performing arts organization in Tampa Bay, employing 70 full-time professional musicians and conductors. The nonprofit orchestra’s concerts and free education and community programs reach more than 150,000 people each year.
"This investment brings us closer to creating a permanent home where The Florida Orchestra can deepen its connection with audiences, broaden access to music education, and serve the Tampa Bay community for generations," said Ignacio Barrón Viela, President and CEO of The Florida Orchestra. "We are grateful to Senator Rouson, Representative Berfield, and Shumaker Advisors for recognizing the transformative potential of this project and helping us take this important step forward."
Plans for a permanent home with a Center for Music and Education Innovation will expand opportunities for education and community engagement while strengthening Tampa Bay's arts and cultural offerings.
"This is exactly the kind of project that can have a lasting impact on a region," said Alan Suskey, Executive Vice President and Principal State Practice, Shumaker Advisors Florida. "The Florida Orchestra is already an important cultural institution, and this funding allows its leaders to take the critical planning steps needed to turn the vision for a permanent home into a viable project."