Lake Worth, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2026) – Palm Beach State College (PBSC) has been awarded $4.95 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, announced today by Governor Ron DeSantis. The funding will support the creation of a new workforce training program in computing and emerging quantum technologies, designed to strengthen Florida’s talent pipeline in national defense, cybersecurity, and financial services sectors.
As the largest workforce educator in Palm Beach County, Palm Beach State College will lead the development of Florida’s first structured, public-access Quantum Systems Certification Program.
“On behalf of our entire Palm Beach State community, we are honored to be selected as a partner with the State of Florida to build the quantum ecosystem and create a one-of-a-kind program that makes this emerging technology accessible to our students and local Palm Beach County community,” said Ava L. Parker, JD, President of Palm Beach State College. “We are deeply grateful to Governor DeSantis and Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly for their confidence in Palm Beach State College and recognizing the vital role we play in preparing Florida’s workforce for future technologies in rapidly evolving quantum computing industries that are critical to our nation’s security and economic growth.”
“Today’s investments will support high demand regional and statewide needs, including talent development needs in communities that are supporting high impact industries that align with many of Florida’s greatest pillars of investment,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Communities such as Brevard and Palm Beach counties are critical for leading industry clusters in aerospace and aviation, military and defense, cybersecurity, financial services, and the investment in Broward College is focused on accelerated pathways to further support aviation workforce needs.”
“Today’s investments are further examples of Governor DeSantis’ focus on targeted, catalytic investments that matter, especially for our national security,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “These three investments support the foundations of workforce readiness for our aviators, cybersecurity, cryptography, secure communications and data.”
The $4.9 million Florida Commerce allocation to PBSC represents the largest single investment among the three recipients, which also include Melbourne Orlando International Airport ($2.5 million) and Broward College (more than $900,000), for a total of more than $8 million statewide.
“Palm Beach County has built a strong foundation in finance, aerospace and cybersecurity, and quantum technologies represent the next phase of that growth,” said Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. “By pairing workforce training with an innovation hub, we are creating both the talent pipeline and the environment needed for companies to start and scale here.”
“Every major technology shift creates two gaps: a skills gap and a timing gap,” said Matt Cimaglia, Founder & Managing Partner of Quantum Coast Capital and founding member of Florida Quantum. “Training a workforce in quantum-era security and computing today ensures our economy adapts smoothly rather than reactively.”
The funding from the Florida Job Growth Act builds upon President Parker’s October 2025 announcement of plans to establish a Quantum Innovation Center at PBSC’s Historic Building in downtown West Palm Beach. Palm Beach State College is developing this program in close collaboration with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, which has been instrumental in aligning the Quantum Innovation Center with regional economic development priorities and the needs of high-tech employers. Quantum Coast Capital is another key partner helping to shape the vision for a world-class quantum ecosystem in Palm Beach County.
The nearly 100-year-old Historic Building will be undergoing a full modernization to support next-generation technology companies. The center is intended to attract startups and incubate emerging companies working in advanced computing, security and related industries, reinforcing the region’s growing role in the national technology economy.
Since 2019, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund has contributed more than $305 million to support public infrastructure and workforce education, creating over 41,000 new jobs and 32,000 new training opportunities throughout the state.
