‘Job Growth’ money goes to panhandle

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday directed more than $12 million to the Panhandle for aviation facilities and to help a planned housing development.

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Drawing money from the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund, DeSantis allocated $4.4 million to Pensacola State College to expand facilities to train aviation mechanics and $3 million to DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport.

The college money is slated to be used to build a hangar and training facilities at Pensacola International Airport for a new mechanics program.

The DeFuniak Springs airport money is expected to go into two hangars, a taxiway and an access road.

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DeSantis also provided $4.6 million to Jackson County to complete a 1.3-mile road and accompanying utilities for a development expected to include 250 single-family homes.

DeSantis, who announced the grant awards during an appearance at Pensacola State College, has discretion to use the Job Growth Grant Fund for infrastructure and job-training projects and programs.

The state budget for the fiscal year that started Monday includes $75 million for the fund.

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