Important News

Pensacola, FL – The Triumph Gulf Coast Board voted on Friday to fund projects in six counties totaling over $83M to create new high wage job opportunities and workforce training. To-date the Board has voted to proceed with 24 projects totaling over $217.6M.

The projects approved to move forward on Friday will create at least 1400 new high wage jobs bringing the total number of new jobs funded by Triumph to over 5,500. The new projects will result in at least 3,975 Career and Technical Education (CTE) industry certifications including Cybersecurity, Advanced Manufacturing, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Supply Chain and Logistics bringing the total Triumph commitment for new industry certifications to over 11,250.

Okaloosa

The Triumph Board approved a Term Sheet and voted to move to final agreement negotiations with Okaloosa County for $64.1 million to assist with a $200 million bypass linking Highway 85 to US Highway 10 southwest of Crestview. This project will result in at least 1300 new defense related jobs and provide long term relief for traffic congestion in the county.

Escambia

The Triumph Board voted to begin term sheet negotiations with the University of West Florida (UWF) for $14,500,000 for cyber security, advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics industry certifications. Through the Center for Cybersecurity, the Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering UWF proposes to produce a minimum of 3,220 industry certifications and provide career pathways to high paying jobs across the region.

Wakulla

A grant award agreement with Wakulla County School Board to start a UAS certification training program at Wakulla High School was approved by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board. Also, the $1,780,000 grant will provide additional CTE digital tools training for students in grades 3-5 in this state designated Rural Area of Opportunity (RAO).

The UAS CTE program will provide students with industry-recognized credentials in this new and growing industry. Florida is among the top ten states predicted to create jobs and revenue as production and use of drones continues to increase.

Franklin

The Triumph Board approved a term-sheet and voted to negotiate a final grant award with Franklin County School Board (FCSB) for a $1,215,000 Triumph Gulf Coast grant for the second phase of their Environmental, Career and Technical Training plan. Phase II will create opportunities at the high school level for students to earn Healthcare, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Safety certifications and Visual Line of Site System Operator certifications. The grant also includes digital tool certifications for 4th and 5th grade students in this state designated RAO.

Walton

The Triumph Board approved a Term Sheet and moved to agreement negotiations for a joint project from the Walton Economic Development Alliance (Walton EDA), Walton County and the City of DeFuniak Springs for $1,742,407 to extend water and sewer service along the west side of US 331. The extension would run from 1-10 south for approximatly 4 miles to just north of Eglin Range Road. The proposed project is located in a state designated RAO.

The EDA, in conjunction with the County, is currently negotiating for parcels of land along the corridor that would be suitable for business, industrial, and commercial development and has committed to creation and maintenance of at least 100 new to Florida private sector jobs at the new development. The jobs will be Qualified Target Industry (QTI) tax refund eligible, paying an average wage of at least 115% of the county wage. The EDA has a commitment from a defense contractor for the creation of at least 35 new jobs at the new site.

Bay

In response to increased construction costs following Hurricane Michael, the Triumph Board agreed to increase the grant award to Bay County School Board to expand the HVAC certification program at Haney Technical Center.

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 Lewis Bear, Jr., Allan Bense, Dr. Pam Dana, Chair Don Gaetz, Ben Lee, and Stephen Riggs, IV and Matt Terry. All meetings of the Board are public.

Please take notice that on October 4, 2019, 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 pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #198:
Applicant: Wakulla County School Board
Funding Request: $1,780,000.00
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #143:
Applicant: School Board of Bay County, Florida (Tom P. Haney Technical Center)
Funding Request: $233,955.00 (increase to existing Grant)
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 4, 2019 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]

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board recently voted to fund eight projects in five counties totaling over $15M to create new high wage job opportunities and workforce training. These job projects will create a minimum of 500 new high wage jobs and at least 2,470 Career and Technical Education (CTE) industry certifications including Cybersecurity, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Healthcare, Emergency Response and Industrial Trades across Northwest Florida.

Walton

The Triumph Board has entered into a Grant Award Agreement with Northwest Florida State College for a $2,763,716 grant to support the expansion of the Walton Works Training Center of Excellence at the College’s Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs. The project creates a training hub in the northern part of Walton County, designated by the State of Florida as a Rural Area of Opportunity. The project will provide access to relevant training opportunities that are responsive to job demands and create a path to higher educational attainment and high wage careers.

The Walton Works Training Center project will prepare students for 20 different occupations and will reach a large number of students in subject areas with projected job growth. The project will establish workforce training programs in Industrial Trades (Electrical, Plumbing, Construction, Welding & Millwright); Cybersecurity; Unmanned Vehicle Systems Operations; Law Enforcement; Fire Science; and Emergency Medical Technician.

The Fire Science and Law Enforcement programs include collaboration with and onsite training at the Walton Sheriff’s facility also in DeFuniak Springs.

The Triumph Board also agreed to move to Term Sheet negotiation for a joint application from the Walton Economic Development Alliance (Walton EDA) Walton County and the City of DeFuniak Springs requesting $1,742,407 to extend water and sewer service along the west side of US 331for nearly 4 miles. The extension would run from approximately1-10 south to just north of Eglin Range Road.

The EDA, in conjunction with the County, is currently negotiating for parcels of land along the corridor that would be suitable for business, industrial, and commercial development. The proposed project is located in a state designated Rural Area of Opportunity (RAO).

The County has committed to creation and maintenance of at least 100 new to Florida private sector jobs at the new development. The jobs will be Qualified Target Industry (QTI) tax refund eligible, paying an average wage of at least 115% of the County wage. The EDA has a commitment from a defense contractor for the creation of at least 35 new jobs at the new site.

Wakulla

The Wakulla County School Board Term Sheet to start a UAS program at Wakulla High School was unanimously supported by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board. The $1,780,000 grant request will also provide additional CTE digital tools training for students in grades 3-5.

The UAS CTE program will provide students with industry-recognized credentials in this new and growing industry. Florida is among the top ten states predicted to create jobs and revenue as production and use of drones continues to increase.

Wakulla Schools has recently completed its first school year utilizing an initial Triumph grant including installation of computer labs in the county’s four elementary schools. Over 300 CTE digital tools certificates were awarded to elementary school students across the district in the first year, far exceeding the proposal’s commitment.

Santa Rosa

The Santa Rosa County request for a $4,500,000 Triumph grant to complete county infrastructure to the Blackwater Industrial Park for Project runner, a confidential competitive economic development project and the County’s request for a $3,500,000 Triumph grant over 10 years for property tax abatement for the same confidential competitive economic development project were unanimously approved to move to Term Sheet negotiations.

Project Runner has committed to create at least 400 new to Florida target sector jobs at an average annual wage of at least $46,000 as well as capital investment by the company of at least $50 million. The grant to Santa Rosa County would be part of a competitive incentive package that also includes property tax abatement and tax refunds from the county and state to win the project for the region.

Franklin

The Triumph Board unanimously agreed to move to Term Sheet negotiations with Franklin County School Board (FCSB) for a $1,215,000 Triumph Gulf Coast grant for the second phase of their Environmental, Career and Technical Training plan. Phase II will add digital tool certifications for 4th and 5th grade students. At the high school level it will create opportunities

to earn Healthcare, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Safety certifications and Visual Line of Site System Operator certifications in a state designated Rural Area of Opportunity.

Participating in these pathways will afford students new opportunities for success in secondary school. It will also broaden their awareness of college and career pathways. The earning potential for these students will be increased due to their knowledge and increased skills. The certificate programs will provide students with skill sets that are in demand and surpasses the wages of most of the hospitality related jobs currently found in the community.

Gulf

During a special meeting in July, the Triumph Board unanimously gave final approval to the Gulf District School Board for $250,000 in Triumph Gulf Coast grant funds to expand of the welding program at Wewahitchka High School (WHS). The grant will increase student capacity in existing welding program and retrofit an existing vocational building on WHS’s campus. Students will gain industry certification in the field of welding, a high demand occupation in the region. Hurricane Michael left unfathomable damage in its wake, but in doing so created more demand for skilled labor such as welders.

During the same meeting, the Triumph Board gave final approval to Gulf County School Board for a $125,000 grant to expand the agriscience CTE industry certification program at Wewahitchka High School (WHS). The Triumph grant will be used to purchase program equipment.

Agriscience program curriculum teaches a variety of skills enhancing student employability in agriculture-based professions as well as others career fields. Students enrolled in the agriscience program will be able to obtain certification in Agricultural Use of UAS Technology through the unmanned aircraft (drone) industry certification program being established at WHS through a separate Triumph grant.

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 Lewis Bear, Jr., Allan Bense, Dr. Pam Dana, Chair Don Gaetz, Ben Lee, and Stephen Riggs, IV and Matt Terry. All meetings of the Board are public.

Please take notice that on August 16, 2019, 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 pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #187:
Applicant: Northwest Florida State College
Funding Request: $2,763,716.00
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 August 16, 2019 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]

The Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will meet by conference call at 11:00 a.m., CT on Friday, July 19, 2019.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider and approve the following proposals for award of funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #148:
Applicant: Gulf County School District, Agriscience Program Expansion
Funding Request: $125,000
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #180:
Applicant: Gulf County School District, Wewahitchka High School Welding Training Program
Funding Request: $250,000
Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Votes to approve Grant Award Agreements for the proposals are expected. Any member of the public is welcome to comment on each of the proposals prior to votes being taken. Information on each of the proposals is available on the Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. website under “Submitted Proposals”.

The conference call may be accessed at 850-203-2100, PIN code 584768#, or in person in Suite 2006, Bay County Government Center Building, 840 West 11th Street, Panama City, Florida 32405.