Florida Aerospace Education Initiative Expands With Federal Grant

Labor Department Grant Matched with Funds from Workforce Florida

TAMPA – Building Florida’s future aerospace workforce will be the focus of a Florida Space Research Institute (FSRI) pilot project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and Workforce Florida, Inc. The project will support specialized math, science and technology education efforts in 10 Florida counties that feature high concentrations of aerospace and defense industries.

“The aerospace industry nationwide is facing a workforce crisis. As large numbers of workers approach retirement age, not enough students are entering the pipeline to take their place,” said Curtis Austin, president of Workforce Florida, Inc. “FSRI will tackle the problem by working with K-12 teachers, using aerospace themes and resources to improve math and science education while promoting careers in the industry.”

The $530,000 project will expand a state-funded effort by FSRI and Florida Gulf Coast University serving eight rural counties. The counties are divided into regions, each served by an Aerospace Education Mentor who will work directly with K-12 teachers to provide aerospace-oriented resources and training. The USDOL grant also includes funding for the placement of technology education teachers into summer jobs within the aerospace industry.

“Our efforts are designed to be consistent with recent recommendations of the Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy,” said FSRI Executive Director Sam Durrance, a scientist and former astronaut who flew on two Space Shuttle missions. “The commission stressed that the greatest impact for building the aerospace workforce would come from expanding programs to train teachers of science, mathematics, and technology.”

The USDOL Employment and Training Administration is supporting the project through their High-Growth Job Training Initiative. Workforce Florida, the state’s lead organization for workforce development, will leverage USDOL’s investment in the project with a matching contribution of state funds. Counties served under the project will be divided into three regions, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton in Northwest Florida; Duval, Nassau and St. Johns in Northeast Florida; and Brevard, Orange and Seminole in East Central Florida.

FSRI, which co-manages the state’s Space Life Sciences Lab with NASA at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, was established by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature to promote collaboration among the state’s academic institutions, industry, and federal space agencies to support space-related education, training, research and technology development.