Florida to provide $7.2M for workforce training at St. Petersburg College

(The Center Square) — Florida officials are appropriating taxpayer funds for workforce training to create new job opportunities for residents.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new workforce training opportunities in St. Petersburg on Wednesday and noted Florida's success since taking office, including its top ranking in education and job creation.

DeSantis announced that St. Petersburg College will receive $7.2 million to establish a semiconductor, artificial intelligence, and machine learning training program. He pointed out that semiconductors have become the lifeblood of the modern economy, but are often purchased from overseas.

"This is a very high-skill, very high-tech industry for our state," DeSantis said. "We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into growing these various sectors in our states, and some of it is through workforce programs."

DeSantis stated that not making semiconductors in the U.S. is a national security risk, especially because a large amount comes from Taiwan and China.

"The bottom line is, there's a lot of uncertainty with respect to this, and this has the opportunity, if those chips aren't being produced, to really crash the economy," DeSantis said.

DeSantis stated taking on a four-year degree and a high amount of debt is not always appealing to everyone and noted there are more ways to be successful beyond going to a university or college, which is why workforce training and trade schools are also a priority in Florida.

"You have so many programs where you can go in at low cost, and get equipped with skills where you can really apply that in a very meaningful way," DeSantis said. "Elon Musk has hired kids out of high school over on the Space Coast of Florida to go to SpaceX."

DeSantis stated he wants to provide opportunities and pathways for not only young people, but people looking for a change in career as well.

"We're producing high school students that have skills in welding, producing skills in electrical, producing high school students with skills in HVAC," DeSantis said. "In a state like Florida, all that is gonna be in demand. You are gonna be employed, there's no question about that."

DeSantis noted this type of training will allow Floridians to start businesses if they wish to, and further pointed out that Florida is not becoming less populated, and those jobs will always be needed.