Governor Ron DeSantis announces nearly $5 million for Pensacola airport

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Pensacola International Airport will receive close to $5 million for infrastructure enhancements, through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. Governor Ron DeSantis announced funding along with Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Executive Director Ken Lawson and Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) President and CEO Jamal Sowell.

“Pensacola has worked for years to bring the aviation maintenance and repair industry back to the city like it once was years ago,” DeSantis said. “This investment in Pensacola International Airport’s infrastructure will allow them to support a significant expansion of state-of-the-art hangers and other development so the city can finally reach their goal.”

The funding will assist with the construction of taxiways, ramps and flatwork so the airport can support additional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and other development. New infrastructure will allow the airport to support ST Engineering’s plan to build one of the biggest MRO operations in North America. ST Engineering’s plan, known as “Project Titan,” will bring three additional MRO hangars to the Airport and create over 1,300 new jobs.

Once complete, the state-of-the-art maintenance campus will consist of four aviation repair hangars, office buildings, warehouse facilities, supporting aprons and other site developments. The expansion of Pensacola Airport and this MRO campus would not be possible without the collaboration of many stakeholders. Significant investment has been made through previous state investments, from the private sector, Florida Department of Transportation, Escambia County, Triumph Gulf Coast and others.

“Governor DeSantis has led the state of Florida in making smart, strategic investments to diversify our economy,” said DEO Executive Director Ken Lawson.

Investing in improvements will make the Pensacola International Airport more accessible for industry development.

“This award to the Pensacola International Airport will help enable a rapidly growing region with the infrastructure to enable good jobs and access to more resources,” said Representative Alex Andrade.

“This support will make a lasting impact to the city of Pensacola and the region, and for that we are truly grateful. Thank you to Governor DeSantis for his leadership and dedication to Northwest Florida.”

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 DEO and EFI and chosen by the Governor to help meet workforce or infrastructure needs in the community to which they are awarded.

Since July 2019, DEO and EFI have received 89 proposals requesting more than $286 million in funding. Today’s announcement reflects a total of more than $185 million in funding awarded to 56 communities across the state since the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund was established.

In 2019-20, $40 million in awards are available for projects that focus on rapidly developing a highly-skilled workforce and on infrastructure initiatives.

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