Charlotte County Public Schools awarded $1.4 million

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Charlotte County Public Schools was just awarded a $1.4 million grant to create advanced manufacturing programs.

“This amount included $600,000 for the new Advanced Manufacturing Program at Port Charlotte High School, which will begin in August 2025, and the Advanced Manufacturing Program at Charlotte Technical College, which will begin in January 2026.” said Brian Granstra, director of career and technical education for Charlotte County Public Schools.

Victoria Scott

The grant came from the Florida Department of Education’s Workforce Capitalization Incentive Program.

Granstra told FOX 4’s Victoria Scott that students will use robots to make products for the aerospace industry.

You can watch Victoria’s full report with the CTE director here:

Charlotte County Public Schools received a $1.4 million grant

“We are the first school district in Florida to be a space academy school district, which means our programs prepare students for careers in the aerospace industry in Florida,” he said.

Granstra also told Scott that this is consistent with Governor DeSantis’ vision for workforce education.

“We want every student to have the opportunity to choose their own E – whether they be employed, enlisted in the military or enrolled after high school,” Granstra said.

Vestas Aircoil US in Punta Gorda has shown interest in working with students who will be included in the new CTE program.

This is a company specializing in air coils for cruise ships and freighters.

Victoria Scott

“We are a relatively new manufacturer in this region and we are growing,” said Vestas US Air Coil CEO Christopher Bergljung. “Having support like them in building the technical knowledge for the new employees we will be hiring is very important to us.”

Granstra said high school students who enroll as dual majors at Charlotte Technical College will not have to pay tuition.

Adults who have already completed secondary school will have to pay tuition fees.

The CTE director said the cost would be about $5,000 to $6,000 a year.