ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Awards More Than $9 Million for Workforce and Infrastructure Development and Announces Nassau County as a North Central Florida Rural Area of[...]

~ This funding will be used to establish an industrial site and expand technical training for commercial drivers. Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced Nassau County has been designated a Rural Area of Opportunity. ~

YULEE, Fla. - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $9 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The Bradford County School District will receive $3 million to construct and develop a new Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training facility within Bradford County with training offered through North Florida Technical College-an investment in Florida's shipping and logistics industry. The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners will receive more than $6 million to construct the roadway network that is required to establish an industrial and commercial site located near the US-301 and Interstate-10 interchange-investing in a critical job creation hub in Northeast Florida.

Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced Nassau County has been designated a Rural Area of Opportunity (RAO)-expanding the North Central Florida RAO to a total of 15 counties. RAOs are rural communities, or a region composed of rural communities, that have been adversely affected by extraordinary economic events or natural disasters. The North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP) supports the region, providing a central point of contact for business recruitment and expansion.

"Our investments in workforce development and critical infrastructure today will help Florida remain an economic powerhouse in the long run - and our rural counties will always be an indispensable part of our state's success," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "We are also amending the North Florida Rural Area of Opportunity to include Nassau County, bringing the total to 15 counties. This designation helps rural communities diversify their economies and accelerate job growth in manufacturing, transportation, and logistics."

"Governor DeSantis has laid out a clear vision to ensure every community has a strong foundation to support a robust workforce and a resilient, future-focused economy that helps Florida families thrive," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "These direct investments into Nassau and Bradford counties are perfect examples of how Florida is focused on bolstering key industries. By investing in CDL training, Florida is increasing the shipping and logistics capacity of the state, bringing more jobs for Floridians with technical training and the ability to support moving Florida-made products. Likewise, the development of industrial infrastructure in Nassau County will create a critical job creation hub at the 301/I-10 interchange-attracting job creators to grow their businesses in our communities, creating new jobs for our workforce and promoting long-term economic success."

Bradford County School District will receive:

$3 million - to construct and develop a new CDL training facility within Bradford County and offered through North Florida Technical College to mirror the CDL program currently offered at Camp Blanding. The Camp Blanding lease expired in June 2024, but remains in place while funding is being secured for the new facility. The newly proposed training facility within Bradford County will allow the existing CDL program to double student enrollment, with a new total of up to 60 students per year.

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners will receive:
$6,250,000 - to construct a roadway network to establish an industrial and commercial site located near the US-301 and Interstate-10 interchange, alongside US-90 and the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad main line with connection in Baldwin and Pensacola. The new industrial and commercial site will be an ideal hub for businesses across multiple sectors including manufacturing, transportation and logistics. This award is expected to directly create 1,250 jobs in the industrial site in Nassau County.

These investments have been made in partnership with North Florida Technical College, Nassau County Economic Development Board, Florida Trucking Association, Bradford County, NFEDP, Nassau County and JAXUSA to bolster job growth and bring workforce opportunities to Florida's rural communities.

Since 2019, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund has awarded more than $328 million and created more than 43,000 new jobs and more than 33,000 new workforce education opportunities. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by FloridaCommerce and are chosen by Governor DeSantis to meet the demands for workforce training or infrastructure needs in Florida communities.

For more information on the Job Growth Grant Fund, click here.
For more information about RAOs, click here.
For more information about the North Central Florida RAO, click here.

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