Announcements & News

Destin – At its final meeting of 2021 in Destin, Triumph Gulf Coast approved over $36.8 million to create 6,448 Cyber and IT certifications requested by existing companies in the region and 717 high wage job that will pay an average wage of up to $61,000.

Escambia County

The Triumph Board moved forward with a grant proposal from Pensacola State College (PSC) for $11,998,919 to expand its existing Cybersecurity and IT Program creating 6,448 new industry certifications. The project will allow the college to integrate certificate attainment into course requirements, ensuring both a certificate high attainment rate and an academic curriculum that will match industry needs in the short term and into the future.

PSC began teaching Cybersecurity in 2013. The grant will be used to expand the program and facility at a total cost of $42,973,919 in partnership with funds from the State of Florida, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County and the City of Pensacola. Employers from diverse industries have indicated their support and the need for the College’s expanded Cybersecurity and IT industry certificate training program.

The Triumph Board also unanimously moved to draft an agreement with the Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission (PEDC) for a $2,500,000 grant to assist the PEDC in acquiring a facility to be leased by Project Pioneer. Project Pioneer is a life science company who will create at least 63 new jobs at an average wage of at least $61,000, which is 136% higher than the current 2021 Escambia average wage. The total project, including facility build out, will cost at least $17,665,000.

Santa Rosa County

Santa Rosa County’s request for $15,378,683 to acquire and improve the Milton Industrial Park was moved forward by the Triumph Board.  To meet demand for industrial sites with easy access to 1-10, Triumph is participating in the development of its fourth industrial park with Santa Rosa County.

The Milton Industrial Park project will create at least 454 high wage jobs that will pay at least 115% of the average wage in Santa Rosa County. The Triumph grant will be matched by a minimum of $21 million in private funds.

Bay County

The Triumph Board approved to move to term sheet for Bay County’s request for up to $7,000,000 to support the recruitment of Project Lightning Strike, a 200 job manufacturing project.  Project Lightning Strike will pay a minimum of 115% of Bay County’s average wage and will contribute to the total project cost of $21,970,291.

The funds will be used by Bay County to acquire and improve land for part of Project Lightning Strike’s operations and for property tax reductions.

Annual Board Elections were held with Don Gaetz being re-elected Chair, Collier Merrill elected Vice Chair, Reynolds Henderson elected Treasurer and Susan Skelton re-elected Secretary.

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors is appointed by the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General and presiding officers of the Legislature. The appointees to the Triumph Board are David Bear, Allan Bense, Chair Don Gaetz, Reynolds Henderson, Ben Lee, Collier Merrill and Matt Terry. All meetings of the Board are public.

Please take notice that on December 16, 2021, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following amendment to an existing funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #202:
Applicant: Gulf Coast State College
Additional Funding Request: $0
Amendment: Extend the Performance Metric #2 deadline for purchasing, installing, and operating equipment by one (1) year, from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
View Summary of Proposed First Amendment to Grant Award Agreement

Any person interested in being heard on these matters may attend and address the Board prior to a vote on approval of any award. Information regarding the time and place for the December 16, 2021, Board Meeting may be found by clicking here.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this notice or the award may be directed to:
Cori Henderson, Program Administrator at [email protected]

Please take notice that on November 18, 2021, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following proposal for award of funding and the following amendments to an existing funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #237:
Applicant: Port St. Joe Port Authority
Funding Request: $15,000,000
View Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #200:
Applicant: Franklin County School Board
Additional Funding Request: $0
Amendments: Add Construction as an additional category of the Certificate program that constitutes the Project and re-allocate the minimum number of certificates per category for achievement of the Performance Metrics; extend by two (2) years the completion deadline for the completion of the minimum number of certificates; and increase the total Project cost and amount of Matching Funds
View Summary of Proposed First Amendment to Grant Award Agreement

Any person interested in being heard on these matters may attend and address the Board prior to a vote on approval of any award. Information regarding the time and place for the November 18, 2021, Board Meeting may be found by clicking here.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this notice or the award may be directed to:
Cori Henderson, Program Administrator at [email protected]

Please take notice that on October 18, 2021, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following amendment to an existing funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #207:
Applicant: Gulf Coast State College
Additional Funding Request: $0
Amendments: Extend completion deadline for the Project by one (1) year; increase the total Project cost by $95,220, increase the Matching Funds paid by Grantee by $95,220, reallocate funds among the various Budget categories, and reallocate funds over the extended completion timeline, but without changing the total Triumph grant funds.
Summary of Proposed First Amendment to Grant Award Agreement

Any person interested in being heard on these matters may attend and address the Board prior to a vote on approval of any award. Information regarding the time and place for the October 18, 2021, Board Meeting may be found by clicking here.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this notice or the award may be directed to:
Cori Henderson, Program Administrator at [email protected]

PANAMA CITY — The Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., has approved a $11.5 million grant to provide partial funding to Florida State University Panama City’s Advancing Science and Career Education in New Technologies (ASCENT) project during a meeting held in Crestview on Monday.

According to a news release from FSU Panama City, the ASCENT project, will be funded over a six-year period and is designed to meet Northwest Florida’s workforce needs through education and training opportunities, with a focus on cybersecurity. The grant is expected to result in at least 3,280 industry-recognized certifications and credentials, including Florida Department of Education identified Career and Professional Education certificates, for students in the region, the release said. 

Read the full article at https://www.newsherald.com/story/news/education/2021/09/16/panama-city-florida-university-receives-11-5-m-grant-designed-meet-northwest-floridas-workforce-need/8324634002/