Important News

Destin – The Triumph Gulf Coast Board moved $50 million of grants forward on Thursday, bringing the total amount of grant awarded to over $300 million across the eight-county Triumph region. The four grants approved Thursday will result in over 500 new high wage jobs and at least 14,210 new Career and Technical Education (CTE) industry certifications. Focused on the IT and Cybersecurity sector, students and adults participating in these CTE programs will gain industry certifications for today and tomorrow’s high wage jobs.

The new Triumph approved workforce training projects break down traditional education silos integrating CTE directly into K-12 and College curriculums allowing students in Northwest Florida to earn degrees and industry required certifications simultaneously.

Escambia

The Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission (PEDC) was awarded a $2,500,000 Triumph grant to win the expansion of Pegasus Laboratories, a pharmaceutical drug research and development and manufacturing company. The grant will be used to assist the PEDC with the acquisition of an existing facility in the Ellyson Industrial Park that will be leased to the company.

Pegasus Labs has committed to create a 63 new scientific and life-sciences manufacturing jobs paying an average wage of at least 136% of Escambia County’s wage.

The Triumph Board moved forward with Pensacola State College’s (PSC) grant request for $11,998,919 to expand Cyber Security and IT Programs. This grant request is in response to identified workforce needs of employers from several occupations within the Information Technology and Cybersecurity industry sectors. The grant will support the construction of the Phase II of the Baars Building West Wing, a classroom/computer lab facility in addition to student tuition waivers.

The project’s funding partners include the State of Florida, Pensacola State College, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County and the City of Pensacola.

Santa Rosa

The Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners was awarded a $15,878,683 Triumph grant to acquire 192 acres of prime industrial zoned property and for site readiness infrastructure to create the new Milton Interchange Park. The project will create a minimum of 454 high wage jobs paying at least 115% of Santa Rosa’s average wage.

The new industrial park located at I-10 and Exit 31 supports the county’s growing logistics and distribution hub. At the time of the grant approval, Santa Rosa had received letters of intent for all 192 acres at the Milton Interchange Park.

Wakulla

The Triumph Board voted to move ahead with Wakulla County School Board’s request for a $20,011,606 grant for the construction and implementation of the War Eagle Career Academy to be located at Wakulla High School. The career academy will expand career and technical education (CTE) in Wakulla County in partnership with Lively Technical College and Franklin County School District to meet regional workforce needs.

The programs within the academy will prepare students for high-skill high-wage in demand jobs resulting in at least 7,450 industry certifications. The Academy’s classes will be open to students in grades K-12 during the school day, summer programs and adult students in the evening.

The grant will embed CTE in existing curricula, in standalone programs and stacked micro-credentials to build unique employees for employer needs. Examples of the new and expanded programs include artificial intelligence; AWS (Amazon Web Services); physical therapy/sports medicine; television production; Comp Tia +; Digital Media; Cloud Computing; banking, finance, and investments; and automotive technology.

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 February 10, 2022, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following proposals to award funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #251:
Applicant: Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners
Funding Request: $15,378,683
View Summary of Proposed Grant Award Agreement

Proposal #259:
Applicant: Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission, Inc.
Funding Request: $2,500,000
View 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 February 10, 2022, 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]

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]