VyStar’s $5 Million Gift Empowering Communities, Advancing Careers, and Driving Economic Growth
JACKSONVILLE, FL - VyStar Credit Union, one of Florida’s largest member-owned financial institutions, announced a $5 million gift over five years to support the University of Florida’s (UF) new graduate campus and the continued growth and revitalization of downtown Jacksonville. The announcement builds on VyStar’s long-standing investment in downtown development. VyStar was one of the earliest private institutions to back the project with a multimillion-dollar commitment, demonstrating private funding could match public investment. That early leadership helped unlock more than $300 million in state, city, and private funding now directed toward the UF Jacksonville campus, reflecting VyStar’s confidence in the city’s future as a hub for innovation and economic growth.
“As one of the fastest-growing credit unions in the Southeast, we believe our future is tied to the talent we attract and develop” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “Our partnership with the University of Florida is an investment in Jacksonville’s long-term success, expanding innovation and fueling economic growth that benefits our members and our communities.”
The University of Florida, under the leadership of the UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini, and local city leaders announced they were exploring the development of a campus in Jacksonville in February 2023. The downtown campus is poised to revitalize the LaVilla neighborhood, creating an innovation district anchored by education, research, and industry collaboration. The new campus will welcome its first students this fall, launching founding programs from the College of Design, Construction and Planning and the Warrington College of Business in downtown’s LaVilla neighborhood, with additional programs and new construction to follow in the years ahead.
“We’re grateful for VyStar’s generous support and partnership, and I’m thrilled as we prepare to welcome our first students to UFs Jacksonville campus,” UF President Stuart R. Bell said. “The momentum for this important project is building, as is the excitement in the Jacksonville and UF communities.”
Since moving its headquarters to the heart of downtown Jacksonville in 2019, VyStar has invested heavily in the community through job creation, small business partnerships, support for local arts and culture, and participation in major public-private partnerships such as the Emerald Trail and MOSH Genesis. The University of Florida Jacksonville commitment extends that track record, providing dedicated funding for initiatives that enhance infrastructure, attract new businesses, and support Jacksonville’s emergence as a hub for fintech, healthcare innovation, and education.
VyStar continues to build momentum in downtown Jacksonville through initiatives that spark revitalization, attract new talent, and promote economic opportunity, delivering its purpose to Do Good and Bank Better.