Eastern Florida State College to open two new technology centers over the next two years
Eastern Florida State College has secured $21 million in funding for technology centers at its Melbourne and Titusville campuses.
Most of the money will go toward a $19.7 million Center for Innovative Technology Education on the Melbourne campus, while $1.2 million will fund an Aerospace Center of Excellence on the Titusville campus.
“This is a significant step forward for our students and community that will provide excellent careers and spur local economic growth,” EFSC President Jim Richey said in a Monday press release.
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“The timing is perfect because high-tech firms are increasingly looking to EFSC to increase their ranks with the rapidly growing commercial space companies at Kennedy Space Center a prime example,” he added.
Both projects were funded in the state budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 2.
The 36,500-square-foot Center for Innovative Technology Education will be located on the corner of Wickham and Post Road. It is expected to open in 2024 as the last stage of the Melbourne campus’ ongoing 10-year plan.
NASA and more than 50 companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Blue Origin, Northrup Grumman and OneWeb Satellites wrote letters of support to the Legislature for the project. It will serve students in 16 college programs about aerospace, computer technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The center will include computer labs that can be configured to provide students with the access to software used by high-tech employers.
The aerospace center at the Titusville campus will allow the Aerospace Technology two-year degree program to double in size. The building will include four specialized labs in electronics, metal fabrication, fluids and composites. The facility, currently a gym that the college said was “underutilized,” will be repurposed and should open in 2023, according to a news release.
The college said it hopes the program will draw students from Orlando and Volusia counties and provide a source of workers for the nearby Kennedy Space Center.
The college announced plans in April to pour $87 million into its Cocoa campus that some residents have complained has been long neglected by the institution. The 10-year plan calls for new facilities for students in aerospace technology, engineering technology and advanced manufacturing. The college will renovate or build new buildings for healthcare, science and other programs.
Bailey Gallion is the education reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallion at 321-242-3786 or bgallion@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne, Titusville EFSC campuses to receive new tech centers
