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Governor announces $3 million grant for Pasco Hernando State College aviation mechanics program
Summary
The governor announced a $3,000,000 Job Growth Grant to Pasco Hernando State College to build an airframe and power plant program at Brooksville Tampa Regional Airport, funding labs, equipment and relocating a professional pilot program; officials estimate about 100 students per year.
The governor announced a $3,000,000 award from the state Job Growth Grant Fund to Pasco Hernando State College onstage in Brooksville, saying the funding will support renovation of specialized classrooms and labs and purchase of airframes, power plants, tools and instructional technology for a new airframe and power plant (AMP) program at Brooksville Tampa Regional Airport.
"We are pleased to be able to award through our job growth grant fund, a grant to Pasco Hernando State College ... That grant will be for $3,000,000," the governor said, framing the award as part of a broader strategy to expand workforce education and meet regional aerospace needs.
Wilton Simpson, introduced at the event as Florida's commissioner of agriculture and an alum of the community college system, called the investment "a big difference" for vocational education and praised programs that count work hours toward state scholarship eligibility. Dr. Eric Hall, identified in the transcript as the college president, thanked the governor and said the college's team had used data to shape the proposal and that the program will connect pilots and mechanics in the same training environment.
According to remarks at the event, the AMP program will relocate Pasco Hernando's professional pilot program to the Brooksville airport to place aviation students alongside future mechanics for hands‑on training. Officials estimated about 100 students may complete the program annually once established.
The governor said the award will help expand the college's capacity to meet regional workforce needs and strengthen the pipeline of aviation technicians for Florida's growing aerospace industry. College leaders were invited forward for a ceremonial check and photography following the announcement. The commencement of renovations, purchase of equipment and an operational timeline were not specified during the remarks.
