Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

State tees up money for job training

The state is targeting about $30 million for job-training programs tied to the aerospace, aviation, defense, cybersecurity and information-technology industries.

"We've really been intent on making sure that those industries have a lot of people that they can hire who have the skills that we need," Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday during an appearance at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.

"And we understand just how lucrative it is. If you have those skills, you can get hired. I mean, there'll be people that get hired out of high school.”

DeSantis directed $11.5 million from the state’s Job Growth Grant fund for machining, welding, manufacturing, and avionics-training programs at Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College, and Indian River State College.

He also announced $9 million for the new Florida Atlantic Workforce Alliance, which will link workforce boards, school districts and manufacturers from Flagler to Martin counties.

Another $6.4 million will go toward developing apprenticeship programs through the Florida Department of Education’s Pathways to Career Opportunities grant program at Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College, Indian River State College, the Brevard County public schools, the Indian River County public schools and the St. Lucie County public schools.

Also, $3 million will go to the education department’s Cyber/IT Pathways Grant program to develop and expand cybersecurity programs at Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College, and Indian River State College.