Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Accepting Applications

Grant Holcomb

 

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) tweeted this past week they are accepting proposals for new projects to be a part of the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. DEO is accepting applications coming off Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing Florida’s $101.5 billion budget last week.

The grant program is getting an extra $50 million from this year’s budget and over $24 million left unspent from 2019. In all, the program will have over $74 million to spend on communities seeking “workforce training and public infrastructure projects to support growth and employment in Florida.”

DEO will be accepting applications until all of the money is awarded, and if applicants have already submitted a proposal, DEO will need applicants to resubmit a current proposal.

DEO will fund “projects that focus on rapidly developing a highly-skilled workforce and on infrastructure initiatives that attract businesses, create jobs, and promote economic growth,” said a press release.

Last year, DeSantis vetoed $20 million designated for the fund, but it was during the height of the COVID pandemic when Florida was facing economic uncertainty. However, DeSantis is encouraged to see projects get funding to draw more talent to Florida.

“Infrastructure projects and workforce training are vital to the state’s economic growth and resiliency,” said DeSantis. “These new funds are made available through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which will help Florida communities ensure they are resilient, prepared for all economic possibilities, and achieve their economic goals.”

The program was initially launched by former Gov. Rick Scott in 2017 and distributed all of the $170 million in the fund before he left office in January 2019.

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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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