News

The recent round of funding awards through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund show Northeast Florida as a big winner. The most recent announcement made by Florida Gov. Rick Scott yesterday awarded funds totaling nearly $4.4 million to three projects located in the JAX region that will enhance job training and infrastructure in our state. The projects include:

• Baker County ($2,297,054) to create an access road to the Woodstock Industrial Park for advanced manufacturing and distribution projects.
• St. Johns River State College ($1,383,237) to expand an advanced manufacturing and robotics training program that will support local manufacturing training, economic development and job growth for Clay, Putnam and St. Johns Counties.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville ($710,352) to enhance the Northeast Florida Advanced Manufacturing & Logistic Job Growth program, which collaborates with more than 300 employers in the high-growth industries of advanced manufacturing and logistics.

This news joins the February announcement of $6 million from the fund to help construct a 1.5 mile long road within the Cecil Commerce Center. That grant will make it possible to develop access to a megasite primed for a large-scale manufacturing operation to the northern part of the complex with the potential to bring a substantial number of jobs and investment once complete.

Grants are reviewed by the Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida and awarded based on strong investment returns in improving infrastructure and enhancing workforce training. More than 245 proposals totaling $866 million in funding were submitted to be considered. With yesterday’s announcement, 27 projects totaling $70 million in funding have been selected.