Florida awards more than $8 million to boost workforce training and critical industry infrastructure
Tallahassee, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis announced a fresh round of funding to help Florida’s talent pipeline and important infrastructure linked to high-impact companies across the state.
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund gave out more than $8 million to projects in Palm Beach, Brevard, and Broward counties. The money went to projects in aviation, aerospace, cybersecurity, defense, and new technologies.
Palm Beach State College will get about $5 million to construct a program that trains people to work in computing and developing quantum technologies. The program is based on quick, modular lessons that last eight weeks and is projected to help hundreds of students over the next ten years while also helping industries related to national security, cybersecurity, and financial services.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport got $2.5 million to make its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul apron bigger. This project is meant to make room for both commercial and military planes. State officials indicated that the infrastructure expansion is expected to create 500 jobs, with average annual wages between $75,000 and $85,000. This will strengthen the region’s involvement in aerospace and defense operations.
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Broward College got an extra $908,000 to expand its Aviation and Maintenance Accelerated Express program. The hands-on training program gets students ready for certification and a quick start in aircraft maintenance jobs. It also leads to an associate degree. The present group of students has stayed together from fall to spring.
State leaders said that the money was part of a bigger plan to make targeted investments in industries that are important for economic security and preparing people for work. The Job Growth Grant Fund has given out more than $305 million across the state since 2019. This has led to tens of thousands of new jobs and training and education opportunities for workers, as well as infrastructure and training that meets Florida’s changing economic needs.
