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Commerce details Job Growth Grant Fund awards and demand; $257 million awarded since 2019, semiconductor and CDL investments highlighted
Summary
Deputy Secretary Jason Mahone told the committee the Job Growth Grant Fund has awarded $257 million to 70 projects in 37 counties since 2019, with high demand for awards (roughly four dollars requested for every dollar available). He cited targeted investments in semiconductor training and CDL capacity expansion.
Jason Mahone, deputy secretary for economic development at the Florida Department of Commerce, briefed the committee on the Job Growth Grant Fund (JGFF), its purpose and recent awards and said the program is focused on workforce and site‑ready infrastructure to support targeted industries.
Mahone said the fund was created by the legislature in 2017 to support workforce projects and infrastructure tied to long‑term job growth and that the department prioritizes shovel‑ready proposals, return on investment in job creation and training outcomes, timeline fidelity and community support.
Program scale and demand - Since 2019 the department has awarded $257,000,000 to 70 projects across 37 counties, Mahone said. - Total requests since 2019 were cited at about $1,200,000,000 vs. roughly $290,000,000 in available funding, a demand‑to‑supply ratio of about 4:1. - In the current year the department reported awarding $42,000,000 so far and estimated about $33,500,000 remaining to award.
Targeted investments and examples Mahone highlighted - CDL training expansion: a multi‑college investment that increased public institution CDL training capacity from roughly 1,000 annual completions to over 3,500. - Semiconductor workforce and infrastructure: $41,000,000 invested over two fiscal years (2022–23 and 2023–24) in workforce training and infrastructure to support semiconductor establishments locating or expanding in Florida. - Indian River State College: $5,000,000 awarded in February 2024 for advanced manufacturing training; the college reported 209 enrollments and 108 completions to date. - Jacksonville Aviation Authority (Cecil Airport): $6,000,000 award in 2021; Mahone said Boeing has located operations there and 334 new jobs were created since the award. - Big Bend Technical College: $2,000,000 award for a mock hospital and nursing training facility; the college has trained 366 students to date and projects another 1,000 over 10 years.
Program management changes: Mahone described recent policy changes to increase accountability and speed project delivery: limiting deadline amendments except for major extenuating events, holding grantees to timelines they propose, requiring recipients to begin work within six months (breaking ground), and phasing contracts to enforce milestones.
Rural and small‑business note: Mahone said demand outstrips supply and highlighted similar ratios (for other Commerce grant programs such as rural infrastructure) where requests have exceeded available funds by multiples. He and staff said the department seeks to cluster investments to amplify regional return and to limit awards that benefit a single private company exclusively (statutory constraint).
Discussion versus decisions: Commerce presented the fund status and recent adjustments to grant administration; the department reported awards and said it will continue to accept proposals. No committee action or new statutory changes were recorded in the transcript.
What’s next: Mahone said the department will continue program oversight, deploy approved awards and work with local partners to enforce timelines and accelerate ROI from approved projects.
