Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $9 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to the City of Pensacola for infrastructure improvements to expand Florida's shipbuilding capacity at the Port of Pensacola. These infrastructure enhancements will help the Port expand to produce complex navy ship modules for submarines and warships up to 400 feet long, while creating approximately 2,000 jobs. This award supports the growing need nationally to create additional capacity in the maritime industrial base.
"We have a strong economy because we have our priorities straight," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "We have delivered record tax relief while making strategic investments in workforce education, infrastructure, and economic development projects that bring industry and jobs to our state. Today, we're building on that track record with a $9 million investment to support the construction of two boatbuilding facilities at the Port of Pensacola. These facilities will produce complex Navy ship modules for submarines and surface ships, and they are projected to create 2,000 jobs for Floridians in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing."
"Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, Florida has ensured our state remains economically competitive through strategic investments that increase Florida's maritime manufacturing capacity-bringing high-skill, high-wage jobs to Florida communities," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "By investing in this project, supporting our local and regional partners, and adding capacity to Florida's overall industrial base, we are strengthening Florida's growing maritime economy and doing our part to enhance our nation's security."
The City of Pensacola will receive:
- City of Pensacola ($9,000,000) - for infrastructure enhancements to support construction of two shipbuilding facilities at the Port of Pensacola, including site development, utilities and facility construction. The project will encompass approximately 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space and support the creation of approximately 2,000 manufacturing and related jobs connected to Project Maeve's advanced shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing operation.
Florida is home to 21 major military installations, including three combatant commands, and 16 deepwater seaports-which account for $19.5 billion in GDP and 1.2 million jobs-with more than 1,350 miles of coastline. Additionally, Florida is ranked the #1 state in the nation for workforce development, maritime industrial base jobs and ship- and boat-building establishments-with more than 1,500 and almost 20% of the nation's ship- and boat-builders based in the state. Florida also ranks #1 in the nation for yacht and pleasure craft exports and boat registration, with $31.3 billion in economic impact from recreational boating and fishing.
In addition to the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund award, the City of Pensacola also secured a $76 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast to support this project. In 2023, Governor DeSantis awarded $3.9 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to the City of Pensacola to facilitate infrastructure improvements at the Port of Pensacola-establishing a High-Performance Maritime Center of Excellence, helping secure the City of Pensacola for American Magic's High Performance Center which opened in January 2026.
Since 2019, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund has awarded more than $341 million and created nearly 45,500 new jobs while supporting more than 34,000 workforce education opportunities. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by FloridaCommerce and are chosen by Governor DeSantis to meet workforce training or infrastructure needs in Florida communities.
