Gov. DeSantis Announces Job Growth Grant Fund Award

Pensacola State College is beginning enrollment this fall in its brand new Aviation Airframe and Powerplant technician program, and also has a significant new grant to help get it off the ground.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis presented the grant in person during a presser at the school in July, along with grants for other Northwest Florida entities.

The program will be housed temporarily in the school’s ST Engineering building at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) while its new 25,000 square foot hangar/classroom facility is being built there. The program conforms to FAA certification standards and graduates can look forward to pulling down an average $36.66/hr or $76,260 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also reports that Florida is among the five states – including Texas, California, Oklahoma, and Georgia – having the highest level of employment in aircraft maintenance and service techs.

The program had previously received a substantial donation in June when Don Bishop, InDyne’s CEO and President, donated a 1982 Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner valued at $900,000 to the program.

At the presser, Gov. DeSantis said, “This is an industry that is doing very well in the state of Florida. We have over 130,000 aviation and aerospace jobs. Of course, we have 20 commercial airports, and we’re the only state with four major airport hubs: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa. This funding will support the construction of the new facility, training equipment, and operating costs at the Pensacola airport where the education will take place. This is really significant. We know this area is synonymous with Naval aviation, and we want to continue to build off the aviation theme here in Northwest Florida.”

The money will come from Florida’s Job Growth Grant Fund, an economic development program promoting public infrastructure and workforce training around the state.

FMI:  www.pensacolastate.edu/