Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation organized to oversee the expenditure of 75 percent of all funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., is required to administer the distribution of the funds to be used for the recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the eight Northwest Florida counties disproportionately affected by the oil spill. Those counties include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla.
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Announcements, News & Correspondence
Triumph Gulf Coast Drives Workforce and Job Opportunity Projects Forward
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.
STATUTORY WEBSITE NOTICE PURSUANT TO s. 288.8016, Florida Statutes (2017)
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]