- Florida Gateway College received a $3 million federal grant to build a Building Construction Technology Center and launch trades programs in North Florida.
- The grant will fund renovations, a 4,800-square-foot lab, and programs with classes starting in fall 2028 offering certificates and associate degrees.
Florida Gateway College (FGC) announced a $3 million federal grant on Wednesday, the largest federal grant in the college’s history, to build a new Building Construction Technology Center and launch trades programs for students across rural North Florida.
According to a press release from Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s (R-Fla.) office, Cammack joined the FGC leaders in Lake City at the announcement after she supported the grant application with a letter of support. The five-year award comes through the Strengthening Institutions Program, a U.S. Department of Education program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This year’s competition prioritized rural institutions and programs that build career pathways and workforce readiness.
“North Central Florida is full of folks who build things with their hands, and they shouldn’t have to leave home to learn a trade. This center means they won’t have to,” Cammack said in the release. “Florida Gateway put together a winning plan, and I was proud to back it. This is a federal investment done right, and I can’t wait to see the first class walk into that lab.”
Cammack was joined by FGC President Dr. Lawrence Barrett, state Rep. Chuck Brannan, an FGC trustee, and Kathy Hebda, chancellor of the Division of Florida Colleges at the Florida Department of Education.
“This grant is a tremendous investment in our college, our students, and the future of North Central Florida,” Barrett said in the release. “The Building Construction program will create new opportunities for students to build skills, earn credentials, and pursue rewarding careers without having to leave the communities they call home. We’re grateful for the support that made this project possible, and we are excited to get to work.”
The grant will fund renovations to an existing campus building for classroom space and the addition of a 4,800-square-foot construction lab equipped with modern tools and technology. The project will also include new HVAC and exhaust systems, along with upgraded electrical and IT capabilities.
FGC will use the funding to establish two stackable programs: a Building Construction Specialist certificate and a Building Construction Technology Associate in Science degree. The programs will allow students to choose how far they want to pursue their education and which credentials they want to earn.
The first year of the five-year grant, funded at $1.583 million, will cover the building renovation and lay the foundation for the new construction lab. Construction, equipment purchases and curriculum development will follow in the second year, with classes expected to begin in fall 2028.