Florida awards FSCJ $7 million to expand welding, HVAC training capacity

The state funding will help Florida State College at Jacksonville establish the Cecil Training Institute in an existing building, expanding workforce programs that are already operating at capacity.
Sept. 4, 2026
3 min read
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Key Highlights

  • The $7.01 million funding will help FSCJ purchase and renovate a vacant building at Cecil Center North for workforce training.
  • The institute will expand HVAC and welding programs, increasing capacity and addressing local labor shortages.
  • The project supports regional industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and logistics by providing skilled workers.
  • FSCJ plans to train about 1,000 workers annually and support 1,250 high school students in skilled trades.
  • Future phases will include advanced manufacturing and logistics programs to further meet industry needs.
Courtesy of Panupong Piewkleng | Getty Images
Construction worker wearing safety hat spot welding rebar on job site.

Florida State College at Jacksonville will receive just over $7 million in state funding to establish the Cecil Training Institute, a workforce training facility that will expand the college’s HVAC and welding programs near Cecil Commerce Center, according to an announcement by the governor’s office.

The $7.01 million award is part of nearly $23 million in Florida Job Growth Grant Fund investments announced on Aug. 31 that’s intended to strengthen the state’s military communities, growing workforce opportunities, and advancing projects through Florida’s shipbuilding companies looking to start or expand their operations. State officials say FSCJ will use the funding to help purchase and renovate a vacant building at Cecil Center North and acquire equipment for expanded workforce programs.

Governor Ron Desantis said in a press release:

“Nearly 900,000 Floridians work in defense and defense-related industries. Our colleges and universities provide skilled talent for defense, aerospace, aviation, and maritime industries throughout the state. Today, I announced major investments to help ensure that Florida remains the national leader in these growing industries. By investing in critical infrastructure and workforce development, we’ve helped make Florida a magnet for defense, aerospace, and shipbuilding companies looking to start or expand their operations.”

Training programs are already at capacity

FSCJ plans to relocate and expand its welding and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration programs from its Downtown Campus to the new training institute. Both programs are currently operating at capacity, college officials told Jax Today.

The move is expected to double welding capacity from 20 to 40 stations, and FSCJ officials have also identified a shortage of roughly 250 HVAC installers and mechanics in Northeast Florida relative to annual job openings, adding pressure to increase training capacity, according to a report from FSCJ Board of Trustees.

Once operational, the Cecil Training Institute is expected to enable FSCJ to train about 1,000 workers annually, along with approximately 1,250 high school students pursuing skilled-trades pathways. The college plans to move the welding and HVAC programs into the new facility by early 2028, Jax Today noted.

Why it matters

FSCJ’s expansion shows how colleges can use existing buildings to respond to workforce programs that have outgrown their current facilities. Rather than constructing an entirely new training center, the college is combining state, local. and institutional funding to repurpose an existing property and expand hands-on instructional capacity. It also demonstrates how capital planning at community colleges increasingly intersects with regional workforce strategy, where expanded laboratories, shops, and equipment capacity can determine how quickly institutions are able to add seats in high-demand skilled-trades programs.

The governor’s office estimates the additional space will support 324 more HVAC and welding program completers over the next 10 years. Future phases of the institute are expected to add advanced manufacturing and logistics programs.

Existing building will be repurposed for workforce training

The project builds on an earlier $5 million investment from the city of Jacksonville to help FSCJ acquire property adjacent to its Cecil Center. FSCJ’s June capital planning documents listed about $9 million for acquisition of the former charter school property and identified the broader Cecil Center Workforce Training Institute as a multiyear project with an estimated total cost of about $25 million.

The location places the expanded programs near Cecil Commerce Center, where aerospace, advanced manufacturing, logistics and other industrial employers are concentrated. College officials say welding, HVAC and other skilled-trades programs are intended to support workforce needs across those industries.

This piece was created with the help of generative AI tools and edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.
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