MATLACHA, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis, DEO Secretary Dane Eagle, and Senate President-Designate Kathleen Passidomo award $8.7 million for Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
The state awarded $7.7 million through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant program and the Job Growth Grant Fund to support a large-scale rapid credentialing effort between three state colleges, two technical colleges, and Local Workforce Development Boards.
Governor DeSantis also announced $1 million through the Florida Disaster Fund to organizations to support emergency management personnel, national guardsmen, and community members in the recovery process.
Funding highlights include:
$7.7 million through WIOA and the JGGF to administer funding for rapid credentialing programs.
- State College of Florida gets $2,940,000 for a commercial driver's license credentialing program.
- Florida Southwestern College gets $1,980,000 for information technology credentialing programs.
- South Florida State College gets $618,842 for a commercial driver's license, welding, and tractor programs.
- Fort Myers Technical College gets $973,000 for diesel maintenance mechanic and Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) programs.
- Cape Coral Technical College gets $200,000 for practical nursing credentialing programs.
- $482,000 through the Governor’s Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to support credentialing program equipment needs across the five awarded educational institutions.
- $1 million to CareerSource Suncoast, CareerSource Heartland, and CareerSource Southwest Florida to provide training and support for rapid credentialing programs.
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.
Organizations awarded funds from the Florida Disaster Fund today are:
- $500,000 to the Florida National Guard Foundation.
- $125,000 to the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association which represents emergency management professionals across the state.
- $125,000 to the Collier County Community Foundation.
- $125,000 to the Charlotte County Community Foundation.
- $125,000 to Collaboratory, a community foundation helping communities across Southwest Florida.
Funds awarded to the community foundations will be utilized for local efforts to repair and rebuild homes in Southwest Florida.
