Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded Pensacola State College $4.4 million toward the planned Aviation Maintenance Training Academy to be constructed at the Pensacola International Airport.
DeSantis delivered the news Monday at PSC to a room full of local officials including school superintendents, commissioners, past mayors and state representatives.
Construction of the training facility is anticipated to begin this fall and take about 15 months to complete, according to PSC President Ed Meadows.
“We committed to producing close to 1,000 certifications over a 10-year period in aviation mechanics,” Meadows said. “The money will actually be used in part for part of the construction of the building, and then there will be money for equipment and scholarships, as well as remuneration to our faculty that are working and teaching the students.”
The $4.4 million covers about a third of the $15 million facility, with other funding sources including Triumph Gulf Coast and Public Education Capital Outlay funding from the Florida legislature.
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The program will be open to the general public, but will include a focus on engaging veterans and dual-enrollment high school students.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all three of our funding sources, and because of Space Florida we were able to capitalize on the opportunity for the governor’s Job Growth Grant. With David Bear and Collier Merrill on the Triumph board, they supported us very strongly for our Triumph grant that we’re receiving,” Meadows said. “And, of course, our legislative delegation. They have worked very, very hard on the total expansion of the aviation industry in Northwest Florida. They realize we can’t get there without a workforce.”
While DeSantis noted Florida's economy has grown 22% since he came into office in 2019, workforce education and targeted infrastructure projects are necessary for it to continue to grow, he said.
"I think what people recognize is a need to be able to support targeted infrastructure projects that can lead to job growth and business formation and development and workforce education opportunities that will lead to students being able to not only do well for themselves, but also fill critical needs that we have in our economy here in the state of Florida," DeSantis said Monday. "So, the awards we're doing today are targeted at both the workforce and the infrastructure elements."
Pensacola State College's grant will not only have local impact but continue to build on Northwest Florida's reputation for naval aviation, 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's doing very well in the state of Florida. We've got over 130,000 aviation and aerospace jobs," DeSantis said. "We think there's a great opportunity in Northwest Florida with the college here, but also with a lot of the folks that come through here in the military, and as they leave the military, these are great opportunities for them as well. So, this is really significant. We know that this area is synonymous with naval aviation, and we want to continue to build off the aviation theme here in Northwest Florida."
DeSantis also announced a $500,000 award for Santa Rosa County directed toward the defense infrastructure of Whiting Field.
"Finally, since I'm here, I'm pleased today to announce a special award of $500,000 in a defense infrastructure grant to Santa Rosa County for the Whiting Aviation Park security fence project. This project will create a secure double entry gate system, which will connect the field to the aviation park," DeSantis said. "It will also allow aircraft to move safely and efficiently between the base and maintenance area, which will enhance security and maintenance operations. This is something that I think will really, really be positive. So, we're excited about this."
DeSantis’ last trip to Pensacola was just shy of three months ago, when he discussed HB 1285 and its impact on charter school conversions and book challenges.
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