U.S. Secretary of Commerce Visits IRSC, Announces $2 Million EDA Grant for New Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Visits IRSC, Announces $2 Million EDA Grant for New Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center
May 29, 2020 Suzanne Seldes
During a May 29 visit to Indian River State College (IRSC), U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for the College’s forthcoming construction of the new Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center at IRSC, a state-of-the-art worker training facility for advanced manufacturing, welding and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The funds were part of an overall $10 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant award for the state of Florida, which also included $8 million for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) in Tallahassee to support a Revolving Loan Fund that will provide businesses with gap financing needed to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Michael.
“Today’s grants help ensure that the rebound in Florida is quick and that it encompasses the important industry of advanced manufacturing,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “IRSC’s planned worker training facility will attract high-quality manufacturing jobs to the Treasure Coast for years to come.”
The 18,000 square-foot Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center will be built on the IRSC Main Campus in Fort Pierce and will provide hands-on learning to fill the immediate skills needs of local manufacturing companies. “The project will increase enrollment in high-skill programs such as HVAC and welding, allowing us to train an additional 500 workers annually,” reports IRSC President Dr. Edwin Massey. “Maintaining partnerships with local industries and businesses is critical for the success of these programs. IRSC will work closely with community employers to balance supply and demand of these highly skilled workers.”
The presentation took place in the Brown Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, a project that was a previous recipient of EDA grant funding. At the close of the event, Secretary Ross joined Dr. Massey for a tour of the National Science Foundation labs housed in the Brown Center.
