St. Johns County to Launch $21 Million Regional Workforce Development Initiative
St. Johns County is beginning a $21 million plan to develop a regional workforce development educational campus in the Hastings community with its partners at the St. Johns County School District, First Coast Technical College (FCTC), the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, and the U. S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight this vital project.
“There are some six-figure careers, with benefits, waiting on the other side of these apprenticeships,” District 1 Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said. “There is a great public benefit to having an education facility like this.”
The new 20,000-square-foot workforce training center will be constructed on a 13-acre site adjacent to the former Hastings High School. The historic high school building will be carefully restored to serve as the campus hub of the third location of the FCTC system. The new facility will include classrooms, lab space, and hands-on practical work areas. The renovated school will offer childcare, adult education classes, and an auditorium for community events. Overall, graduates will fill more than 550 new high-wage jobs from 10 Northeast Florida employers who have committed to reinvesting $1.2 billion into the regional economy of St. Johns and the surrounding counties.
In addition to the County’s $7.3 million contribution through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the School District provided a $1.8 million local match to the new campus.
“I am beyond excited about returning historic Hastings High School to the community,” School Board Vice Chair Tony Coleman said. “I attended the school, walked its halls, enjoyed well-prepared meals, made lasting friendships, and even got to spend a little time in the principal’s office. Working with the County Commission to highlight its importance to the entire County has been amazing. I am so grateful that we received the Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant to support the construction of the Workforce Training Center as a key component of the First Coast Technical College Hastings Campus. This project truly is one where funding, commitment and passion have come together to ensure the vitality of the Hastings community into the future.”
ARPA was passed on March 11, 2021, creating the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. These funds are intended to support state and local governments in facilitating the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EDA contributed a $9.5 million grant from its Economic Adjustment Assistance Program to the design and construction of the $11.3 million, 20,000-square-foot workforce training center. The curriculum will be focused on diesel engine and solar technology.
“The Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with local communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Cristina Killingsworth, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development for the U.S. EDA. “This investment to the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will support good jobs and economic resilience throughout the region.”
The private commitments to this project include:
- Coggin Ford Jacksonville
- Jacksonville Electric Authority
- Northrop Grumman
- Old Town Trolleys
- Ring Power
- Rulon International
- Solar Stik
- Vermeer Southeast
- Vested Metals International
- Vitis Energy
“This grant will allow the county and the St. Johns County School District’s First Coast Technical College to construct and operate a state-of-the-art workforce training facility in Hastings,” said Scott Maynard, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. “The demand for FCTC’s current diesel and hydraulics students is very high because of the diversity that the program provides. Graduates will be employed in trucking, marine, or agricultural sectors, all of which are strong in our County. These graduates will also start at a competitive wage and have growth potential as they gain experience. This grant will allow us to provide new opportunities to students and adults in our region and meet the needs of our employers.”
The first-floor renovations of Hastings High School will be completed by the end of 2026. No date has been set for the groundbreaking of the new workforce training center.