February 18, 2026 – West Palm Beach, FL — The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) has been awarded $1,031,000 in federal funding secured by U.S. Representative Lois Frankel — the largest federal grant in the organization’s history — to advance workforce development and regional coordination in quantum technologies as part of a broader effort to build a regional quantum ecosystem through programming initiatives.
The funding was announced this morning at a press conference with Congresswoman Frankel, Business Development Board President and CEO Kelly Smallridge, Palm Beach State College President Ava Parker, and many public and private sector partners at Palm Beach State College’s Historic Building in West Palm Beach. The investment will further align business, education, and economic development strategies as Palm Beach County strengthens its position in advanced technology industries.
Palm Beach State College also received more than $2 million in federal funding to support the creation of the Quantum Innovation Center, a transformative hub for education, research, and industry collaboration that will be located in the College’s Historic Building in downtown West Palm Beach. The new center will serve as a regional hub for research and workforce training in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and related high-tech fields.
Together, these investments position the Palm Beaches as an emerging hub for quantum innovation — preparing students for next-generation careers while strengthening the region’s innovation economy.
Over the past year, the Business Development Board has worked in partnership with academic leaders, public/private partners, and stakeholders to position the region for growth in quantum technologies, including close collaboration with Quantum Coast Capital leaders Matt Cimaglia and Hillary Matchett.
Recent significant milestones include:
- Quantum Beach 2025’s success being hosted in the Palm Beaches in October 2025
- D-Wave’s relocation of its corporate headquarters to Boca Raton
- Florida Atlantic University’s $20 million acquisition of a D-Wave quantum computer
- Palm Beach State College’s development of a Quantum Innovation Center, which was awarded $4.95 million from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund last week
“Florida has taken a leadership role in advancing quantum technologies, and we commend both the state and federal investments in quantum education at Palm Beach State College and through the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave Quantum, Inc. “We are thrilled that our headquarters and research and development facility will be located in Boca Raton, and we look forward to working with Palm Beach State College, Florida Atlantic University, and other Florida institutions to help build the quantum-ready workforce of the future.”
“We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Lois Frankel for her leadership in securing this historic federal investment,” said Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. “We also thank our academic and industry partners for their vision and collaboration. This funding strengthens a collective effort — one that ensures our students, our businesses, and our community are prepared for the next generation of innovation.”
Today’s announcement marks a defining step in a long-term regional strategy built through partnership. With continued coordination across industry, higher education, and government, Palm Beach County is laying the foundation for sustained growth in quantum and advanced technologies.
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About the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) serves as the county’s official public/private economic development organization. Established in 1982, the BDB is dedicated to attracting and retaining industries, fostering business investments, creating high-quality jobs, and supporting workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions, and international trade initiatives. Over the past five years, the BDB has supported more than 140 companies, contributing to the creation or retention of over 13,110 direct jobs with average salaries exceeding $80,000 per year. These efforts have driven more than $1.12 billion in capital investments into Palm Beach County.
Contact us or learn more by exploring bdb.org.
