FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Fort Pierce Wednesday morning, where he spoke at Indian River State College at the Maker's Space, Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex.
The governor awarded Indian River State College a $4 million grant to support the development of its new Institute for Industrial Manufacturing and Production Training. The funding will go toward training materials, equipment, and instructors.
WATCH: Grant will support training and equipment at IRSC facility
DeSantis said the institute will help students prepare for careers in advanced manufacturing, as well as "support the growing needs of manufacturers in the region."
The Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex, located on IRSC’s Fort Pierce campus, opened in 2023. The $21 million facility offers hands-on training in high-demand industries, including welding, HVAC, automotive diagnostics, and electric vehicle technology.
"When you start talking about advanced manufacturing, you're talking about jobs where one person can support a family," DeSantis said. "This is something that's really, really significant. So I'm glad that we've really become a growing center for manufacturing, and want to continue to do that as we go forward."
DeSantis also awarded $4.9 million to Miami-Dade College for a new aircraft mechanic training program.
A LOOK INSIDE THE COMPLEX
“From welding and joining technologies, to HVAC and refrigeration systems, to automotive, to diagnostic automotive,” said IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore. “We’re moving into EV-based technology, so we have to train the workforce to diagnose and repair electric vehicles.”
One of the standout features of the center is a Tesla cutaway vehicle, used to train students on the latest electric vehicle systems.
According to Moore, the facility had been sitting on the college’s books for nearly a decade. That changed shortly after he became president.
“Within 90 days of my arrival, we broke ground — and a little less than three years later, we occupied this building,” Moore said.
Now, the center is set to grow even further.
“The big check is going to be used to provide the training, the materials, the instructors — for our community members to get an education,” Moore said. “Everything around this room is state-of-the-art and is exactly what you will see in any modern dealership in North America.”
The center is built to train up to 1,500 students, and the funding will help expand similar programs to IRSC’s Martin County campus.
“We at this college take people at their God-given level and produce skills that get them into the workforce and change their lives,” Moore added.
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