Gov. Ron DeSantis says nearly $23 million in grant awards announced Monday will boost workforce opportunities and support Florida’s defense industrial base.
Among the awards is a $15.3 million grant through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which went to four separate entities for infrastructure and workforce training in industries that directly support national security.
The City of Palm Bay received $3.5 million which will be used for the city’s redevelopment plan. The project will free up 960,000 square feet for future industrial and commercial space.
Florida State College at Jacksonville got over $7 million, the largest chunk of the grant. The money will go toward establishing the Cecil Training Institute next to the Cecil Commerce Center through the purchasing and renovating of a vacant building at Cecil Center North, the governor’s office said. It will also help with purchasing equipment to expand enrollment capacity in its HVAC and Welding programs, among other things.
Another $3 million goes to Northwest Florida State College to build a 4,000 square foot, two-bay facility to create the Maritime Fabrication Training Center at Northwest Florida State College’s campus in Niceville.
Polk State College was awarded approximately $1.7 million to create a dedicated Commercial Vehicle Driving Program.
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund has helped create over 45,000 new jobs since 2019, according to the governor’s office.
“Nearly 900,000 Floridians work in defense and defense-related industries,” said DeSantis. “Our colleges and universities provide skilled talent for defense, aerospace, aviation, and maritime industries throughout the state. Today, I announced major investments to help ensure that Florida remains the national leader in these growing industries. By investing in critical infrastructure and workforce development, we’ve helped make Florida a magnet for defense, aerospace, and shipbuilding companies looking to start or expand their operations.”
The Florida Department of Transportation’s Spaceport Improvement Program awarded $5 million to support designing and building a rocket motor test stand at Cecil Spaceport.
Another $3.1 million in awards was granted through the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program and the Florida Defense Support Commission Grant Program. The money will go toward supporting Florida’s military communities and military installations, the governor said.
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has strategically invested in Defense and Aerospace communities, along with the industry partners in those communities that create such incredible jobs, defend our nation, and advance our state’s innovation-driven economy,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Today’s awards elevate and leverage Florida’s 21 major military base communities, the nearly 900,000 Floridians who work in defense and Florida’s spaceports to bolster our industrial base for those industries like Defense, Aerospace and Aviation, and even Maritime, that truly help accentuate many of Florida’s unique value-adds to our nation.”
