Martin County opens Reach Center to train aerospace, manufacturing workforce

Martin County officials and education partners on Saturday celebrated the opening of the Reach Center, a new training facility designed to connect local employers with skilled workers for aviation, marine and manufacturing jobs.

"This is a long time coming," said Don Donaldson, the county administrator, who credited years of planning, legislative appropriations and other government help in bringing the project to fruition. "It's a great facility," he said, and added that partners — including a company identified in the remarks as "DeHare" — are planning to use the space.

The center, speakers said, is intended to help address a shortage of skilled labor that local tenants and businesses face. An unidentified presenter described Witham Field as "unquestionably the largest economic engine in Martin County" and laid out the training curriculum the Reach Center will host: machinery and tooling, technical drawing and technical writing, aerostructures, airframe and powerplant maintenance, and English as a second language.

A representative of CareerSource Research Coast, identified in remarks but not named, said the organization will "regain a footprint" in Martin County through the Reach Center and collaborate with county partners, schools and private training providers to build career pathways in aviation, advanced manufacturing and marine trades.

Ed Campy, who emceed the event on behalf of District 2 Commissioner Stacy Heatherington, introduced elected officials and school and city representatives in attendance and thanked donors and volunteers. He closed the program by describing the building as "a great, first step" for trainees and the community and led a short ceremonial countdown.

The event organizers framed the Reach Center as a practical solution for both new entrants to the workforce and adults seeking career changes. An attendee who identified themselves as Dyer described the facility as offering "hands-on accomplishments" and pathways to "a meaningful aerospace career."

No formal vote or policy action was taken at the ceremony; speakers emphasized partnership and training rather than new ordinances or funding decisions on the record. The remarks cited legislative appropriations and other government support as sources of funding but did not provide detailed budget figures or enrollment targets.

Next steps described at the event focused on program development, partner coordination and enrollment outreach. The county did not specify start dates for classes or the number of trainees expected in the first cohorts at the time of the ceremony.