Important News

Tallahassee Community College was awarded a grant in the amount of $276,500 by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board to go toward the College’s Division of Workforce Development. This decision was made unanimously by the board during their June meeting.

The grant received by TCC will target economic recovery efforts in Franklin and Wakulla counties by establishing fast-track training programs that address infrastructure and transportation and logistics. The training is dedicated to residents of Franklin and Wakulla counties and will allow for the creation of Commercial Vehicle Driving (CVD) and Masonry programs. 

 “We recognize with the unemployment growing in Franklin and Wakulla counties largely due to job losses related to COVID we must work to create training solutions that meet the immediate needs of our neighbors and friends as well as offer a pathway to a brighter future,” said Kimberly A. Moore, Vice President for Workforce Innovation & TCC2WORK/Be Essential. “Thanks to the Triumph Gulf Coast Board’s leadership residents of Franklin and Wakulla counties will be able to pursue in-demand careers.”

These programs are both in-demand with Florida projecting that through 2027 there will be a need for 89,255 commercial vehicle/truck drivers and 14,620 cement/masonry workers with wages that range from $20.53 – $24.05 for drivers and $18.51 – $21.03 for cement/masonry workers. The trainings will include industry recognized certifications for both programs which means that the certification is portable and accepted throughout the U.S.

For those interested in the CVD program, it will consist of 175 clock hours. While those who are interested in masonry will join a program consisting of 210 clock hours.  

These programs start in August. If interested, contact 1-833-TCC-JOBS or [email protected]. Scholarship opportunities are available.

The CVD and masonry programs are just two of more than 70 programs offered by TCC that are short, in-demand and lead to a great wage and career. To view the entire list visit TCC2WORK.com.

Three companies plan to locate at Santa Rosa Industrial Park East, creating more than 100 jobs and $22 million of capital investment. And that’s just the start of a busy summer.

Two selling points for Santa Rosa Industrial Park East are 112 acres of certified developable land, which are just two miles from Interstate-10.

“Manufacturing has a high impact to the economy; that’s the reason we target manufacturing,” said Shannon Ogletree, Santa Rosa County’s economic development director. Anything from renewable energy to the aviation sector. One job in the manufacturing industry will create multiple more jobs throughout the economy.”

The three projects – code named O Brother, Hard Metal and Induction – are manufacturing firms in various areas, and will join boat manufacturer Cape Horn in the park.

“One of them has to do with manufacturing relating to renewable energy; in terms of timeline, we are seeking money to extend a road through our industrial park,” said Ogletree. “One of the projects, which is O Brother, they will be able to get moving sooner than later, but the other two will have to wait as we seek funding for this road.”

Confidentiality agreements with the businesses require identification be made only by project name and description. Santa Rosa Commissioner Lane Lynchard expects the companies to go public by the end of summer. Shannon Ogletree, Santa Rosa Co. Economic Development Dir. Credit Santa Rosa Economic Development Office

“Our economic development team, they work with industry site plan consultants throughout the county to put Santa Rosa County out there, and advertise what we have to offer,” Lynchard said. “In terms of our location, work force, the infrastructure that we’re putting in place to recruit these new industries/new businesses to Santa Rosa County.”

Lynchard reminds everyone that these — and other industrial development projects – don’t just pop up or get thrown together overnight.

“Some of these projects may have been in the works for more than a year; and that’s true of some of these large economic development projects,” said Lynchard. “It takes a lot of groundwork by our team, to get them to that point where they’re comfortable investing millions of dollars in Santa Rosa County.”

The aforementioned 110 new jobs and $22 million investment by the three firms, says Shannon Ogletree, are conservative estimates at their respective startups.

“As they move in, they’re expected to grow, especially the big one, Project Induction, which is the company that’s looking at 40 acres at the Santa Rosa Industrial Park East,” Ogletree said.

When his team goes after companies as potential tenants, Ogletree says they’re usually in what he calls their “target sector.”

“One that fits our labor force, or fits the geography,” he said. “[At] Santa Rosa Industrial Park East, we kind of dovetailed that site into two more manufacturing sites. Between these three projects, the two that are out are outstanding along with Cape Horn, we’re making that our true industrial site.”

As mentioned, one goal akin to luring the businesses is getting the park’s road built in part with BP oil spill money from Triumph Gulf Coast. That’s a portion of the one and a half billion dollars earmarked for the region, which Commissioner Lane Lynchard says puts Northwest Florida on a level playing field with neighboring states.

“We’ve been competing against Alabama and Georgia – that have dedicated funding sources and really, really deep pockets – to provide companies incentives to come to those states,” said Lynchard. “And we lost out in the past. But with Triumph, they’re able to fund infrastructure that’s going to serve these new companies that are locating to the Panhandle.”

And the economic development team is not sitting on their hands. Lynchard says they hope to make a couple more announcements “real soon.”

“Locklin Tech launching free, 30-day pipefitting and HVAC certification programs” Click here to read the article from Pensacola News Journal.

Please take notice that on June 18, 2020, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following proposals for award of funding and amendments to prior approvals to award funding, pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #210:
Applicant: Gulf Coast State College
Funding Request: $2,259,063.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #216:
Applicant: Northwest Florida State College
Funding Request: $7,064,665.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #221:
Applicant: Santa Rosa County School District
Funding Request: $182,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #222:
Applicant: Okaloosa County School District
Funding Request: $200,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #223:
Applicant: Emerald Coast Technical College
Funding Request: $200,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #224:
Applicant: Wakulla County School District
Funding Request: $200,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #228:
Applicant: District Board of Trustees of Pensacola State College
Funding Request: $74,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #229:
Applicant: Tallahassee Community College
Funding Request: $276,500.00
Summary of Proposed 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 June 18, 2020, 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 April 30, 2020, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following amendments related to an award of funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #187:
Applicant: Northwest Florida State College (Walton Works)
Funding Request: No Additional Funds; Amending Budget Category Allocation and Funding Procedures
Summary of Proposed First Amendment to Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #185:
Applicant: City of Panama City and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.
Funding Request: No Additional Funds; Amending Numbers of Net New Jobs and Deadlines in Performance Metrics
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 April 30, 2020, 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]