Keeping college affordable shows our continued commitment to student success . It makes a huge difference for our students and it is something I am personally proud of as president .
$ 14.5 million . However , rising construction costs , plus the fact it could take years to gain the funding from Tallahassee , caused us to revise the plan .
The Center will now be housed in the renovated , three-story Library building on the Cocoa Campus with current library services moved to another location on campus . That transformation can now begin with the $ 3.6 million we received from Tallahassee . We are currently preparing a request for an estimated $ 5 million which will be presented in this next legislative session to outfit the building and complete the next phase of this critical workforce project .
Sounds like this will help EFSC move forward more quickly on the enhancements planned for the Cocoa Campus . What else will the new plan accomplish ?
The new plan will do several things .
First , it saves taxpayers millions of dollars by alleviating the need to build a new structure . It is a time saver as well . The new Advanced Technologies Center can be opened years before it was originally planned and ensures that we meet Gov . DeSantis ’ challenge , helping achieve his goal of
making Florida the leading state for high-tech workforce training .
It also provides for future expansion of the Center to meet the needs of Space Coast employers , allowing for the creation of larger spaces for classrooms , collaborative workspaces and labs to accommodate the expansion of growing workforce programs .
What EFSC programs will be offered in the new center ?
They will include Aerospace Technology , Engineering Technology , Composite Fabrication and Testing , CNC Machining , Air Conditioning , Heating , Refrigeration ( HVAC ), Welding Technology and others .
The programs located at the Center are created for accelerated training , short-term certificates , and customized / corporate training . They include internships and apprenticeships to secure an entry-level job or career advancement .
The bottom line is the new facility will have three times the space as the original proposal , cost a fraction of what a comparable facility would cost and meet the needs of our local employers . That ’ s a real win-win .
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Keeping college affordable shows our continued commitment to student success . It makes a huge difference for our students and it is something I am personally proud of as president .
- Dr . Richey , President
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