Governor Ron DeSantis is sending a multimillion-dollar boost to Hernando County’s aviation ambitions, announcing Wednesday that $3 million from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is headed to Pasco‑Hernando State College in Brooksville. The money will launch a new airframe and powerplant (A&P) aviation maintenance program, expand pilot training options and pull drone‑maintenance instruction together at Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport.
Today in Brooksville, I awarded $3 million for workforce education through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to Pasco-Hernando State College. This award will fund the launch of a new airframe and powerplant aviation maintenance program, the expansion of pilot training… pic.twitter.com/nN5NZ0n5Qg
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 10, 2026
In a post on X, Ron DeSantis shared a photo of a ceremonial check and said the award would “fund the launch of a new airframe and powerplant aviation maintenance program” while expanding pilot training and consolidating drone maintenance instruction at the airport. According to that post, this is the first public notice of this specific allocation to Pasco‑Hernando State College.
The college has already been laying the groundwork for an FAA‑aligned A&P program that pulls together its existing Professional Pilot Technology and Unmanned Vehicle Systems offerings into a single aviation training hub at Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport. That buildout includes facilities upgrades, specialized equipment and new instructors, according to Pasco‑Hernando State College.
Why aviation training matters
State leaders have been steering Job Growth Grant Fund dollars toward targeted industries such as manufacturing, aviation and aerospace to build local talent pipelines. The program has helped create thousands of jobs and training opportunities since 2019, according to the Office of the Governor.
At the federal level, the aviation workforce crunch is on Washington’s radar too. The FAA continues to offer aviation workforce and maintenance‑training awards aimed at shoring up the supply of aircraft mechanics and technicians, according to the FAA.
What comes next for PHSC and Brooksville
PHSC’s North Campus in Brooksville is set to anchor the new aviation training push and coordinate with employers and flight schools at the airport, according to Pasco‑Hernando State College. The campus already serves as the college’s community hub in Brooksville.
On the airside, Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport has been lining up infrastructure and vocational initiatives to support training and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activity, according to Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport.
Exact timelines, enrollment targets and a detailed budget have not yet been made public beyond the governor’s post and the grant paperwork. The proposal describes plans to purchase specialized tools and training equipment, hire FAA‑certified instructors and align coursework with FAA standards to prepare students for in‑demand aviation careers, according to Pasco‑Hernando State College.
