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Gov. Ron DeSantis presented a $4.41 million Job Growth Grant Fund award to Pensacola State for the new Aviation Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Program. Pictured holding the ceremonial check are, from left, PSC administrator Grover Robinson IV, ST Engineering Chief Integration Officer Bill Hafner, aviation consultant Cliff Vonada, PSC Board Chair Dr. Troy Tippett, PSC administrator Mike Listau, aviation consultant Glenn Brackin, PSC A&P Mechanics Program instructor Bocephus Hinson, PSC administrator Debbie Douma and PSC President Ed Meadows.
Gov. DeSantis announces the Job Growth grant during a news conference on the College’s Pensacola campus
Pensacola State College’s Aviation Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics (A&P Mechanics) Program received a big financial boost on July 1.
Gov. Ron DeSantis personally announced a $4.41 million Job Growth Grant Fund award to the program at a press conference held in the Bear Jones Moore Reeves Center for Math and Advanced Technology on the College’s Pensacola campus.
DeSantis also announced that infrastructure and workforce grants were awarded to other Northwest Florida entities, including Santa Rosa County. A standing-room-only crowd with officials from Jackson County westward was at the press conference in Building 27’s Grand Hall.
Beginning this fall, Pensacola State will train students to become certified aviation mechanics in an A&P Mechanics Program aligned with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The program will be temporarily housed in the ST Engineering facility at the Pensacola International Airport until the College completes a 25,000-square-foot building for the program on airport property.
“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,” DeSantis said at the press conference.
“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.”
DeSantis added that the program will also offer well-paying career opportunities for veterans who underwent this type of military training in the Panhandle.
“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,” DeSantis said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a $4.41 million Job Growth Grant Fund ceremonial check to Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows, left, and PSC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Troy Tippett, far right, on July 1.
Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a $4.41 million Job Growth Grant Fund ceremonial check to Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows, left, and PSC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Troy Tippett, far right, on July 1.Pensacola State President Ed Meadows was thankful for the grant and described the establishment of the A&P Mechanics Program as “an exceptional partnership” between multiple entities – Triumph Gulf Coast, City of Pensacola, Northwest Florida legislators, Pensacola Airport Authority, ST Engineering, Santa Rosa County Economic Development and others.
“Good things happen together, and our community in Northwest Florida has pulled together and worked tirelessly with public and private sectors to make this program possible,” Meadows said.
“The 25,000-square-foot facility next to the new Hangar 3 will be used to do more than just teach A&P Mechanics, but also offer advanced certifications in the aviation field. We look forward to this endeavor to help do our share and fulfill the College’s mission of providing high-paying jobs training,” he added.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data, the mean hourly wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is $36.66 an hour or $76,260 a year. The BLS reports that Florida is among the five states ─ Texas, California, Oklahoma and Georgia – with the highest employment level for aircraft mechanics and services technicians.
Meadows said the new grant completes the needed funding for the A&P Mechanics Program and will assist in the facility’s construction and provide scholarships to students and additional equipment. The construction of the new facility will begin this fall, and the first cohort of about 20 students will be housed at ST Engineering Hangar 1.
“We’ve hired the faculty, and we’re well on the way,” Meadows said. “Students in the program can be veterans mustering out of the military. They can be dual-enrollment students still in high school and certainly those from the general public.” Mike Listau, dean of PSC Workforce Education, said the Job Growth grant will provide invaluable assistance to the College’s initiative to train certified Aviation Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The award also demonstrates the commitment of the governor and state to support workforce education programs and provide funding to train a skilled workforce that leads to high-skill/high-wage jobs in Florida,” Listau said.
Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, Sen. Doug Broxson, Representatives Shane Abbott and Michelle Salzman, and other Panhandle elected officials were also at the press conference.
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 selected by the governor to meet the demands for workforce training or infrastructure needs in communities around the state.
The $4.41 million grant is the second significant gift the A&P Mechanics Program has received this summer. In June, InDyne CEO and President Don Bishop, also InDyne’s Reliance Test & Technology chairman of the board, donated a 1982 Metroliner airplane valued at $900,000 to the College for the program.
For more information, contact Sheila Nichols, executive director of marketing and information, at 850-484-1428 or snichols@pensacostate.edu.