Governor Ron DeSantis awarded Pensacola State College $4.4 million for the Aviation Maintenance Training Academy to be built at Pensacola International Airport.
DeSantis broke the news Monday at PSC to a room full of local officials, including school superintendents, commissioners, former mayors and state representatives.
Construction on the training facility is expected to begin this fall and take approximately 15 months to complete, according to PSC President Ed Meadows.
“We’ve committed to producing about 1,000 aircraft mechanics certifications over a 10-year period,” Meadows said. “The money will be used in part for the construction of the building, and then there will be money for equipment and scholarships, as well as for the compensation of our faculty who are working and teaching students.”
The $4.4 million covers about a third of the facility’s $15 million cost, with other funding sources including Triumph Gulf Coast and Public Education Capital Outlay funds from the Florida Legislature.
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The program will be open to the general public, but will focus on engaging veterans and dual-enrollment high school students.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all three of our funding sources, and thanks to Space Florida, we were able to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the governor’s job growth grant. Triumph board members David Bear and Collier Merrill were very supportive of the grant we are receiving,” Meadows said. “And of course, our legislative delegation. They have worked very, very hard on fully expanding the aviation industry in Northwest Florida. They realize we can’t do it without a workforce.”
While DeSantis noted that Florida’s economy has grown 22% since he took office in 2019, workforce education and targeted infrastructure projects are necessary for it to continue growing, he said.
“I think what people are recognizing is the need to be able to support specific infrastructure projects that can create job growth, business formation and development, and workforce education opportunities that allow students to not only be able to succeed on their own, but also meet critical needs that we have in our economy here in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said Monday. “So the grants that we’re awarding today are targeted at both the workforce and infrastructure elements.”
The Pensacola State College grant will not only have a local impact, but will also continue to strengthen the reputation of naval aviation in Northwest Florida, according to DeSantis.
“Now this program provides an opportunity to train more Floridians to work in the aviation and aerospace industry. This is an industry that is doing very well in the state of Florida. We have over 130,000 aviation and aerospace jobs,” DeSantis said. “We think there’s a huge opportunity in Northwest Florida with the university here, but also with a lot of people coming here in the military, and when they leave the military, these are great opportunities for them as well. So, this is really important. We know that this area is synonymous with naval aviation, and we want to continue to develop the aviation theme here in Northwest Florida.”
DeSantis also announced a $500,000 award to Santa Rosa County for Whiting Field defense infrastructure.
“Lastly, while I’m here, I’m pleased to announce today a special $500,000 Defense Infrastructure Grant for Santa Rosa County for the Whiting Airfield Security Fence Project. This project will create a secure dual-gate entry system, connecting the field to the airfield,” DeSantis said. “It will also allow aircraft to move safely and efficiently between the base and the maintenance area, which will improve safety and maintenance operations. I think this will be very, very positive. So we’re excited.”
DeSantis’ last trip to Pensacola was just under three months ago, when he discussed HB 1285 and its impact on charter school conversions and literacy challenges.
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