Santa Rosa County receives a $4.2 million grant to use at Whiting Field Aviation Park

Cash keeps flowing in for Santa Rosa County to use to construct its taxiway/apron at Whiting Field Aviation Park.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced another $4.2 million grant will be provided for the project, bringing the total now available to the county to $12.1 million.

"We have been lucky to have been able to pull funds from all these sources," said Shannon Ogletree, the county's economic development director. "If you had asked me even six months ago ... I was worried as hell. I've been really amazed at how all the pieces of the puzzle have fallen together."

The latest grant from the state's Job Growth Grant Fund will support the aerospace and defense sectors by connecting Naval Air Station Whiting Field to Whiting Aviation Park, a news release from the Governor's Office said. It will be used to help construct a helipad and an approximately 2,800 linear foot taxiway to connect the two areas and expand business opportunities.

The project is expected to create more than 150 new high-wage jobs and will facilitate the growth of Florida’s aerospace, defense and security sectors, the release said.

Previous grant: With $1.5 million in hand, Santa Rosa officials continue to look for Aviation Park grants

“Today’s award will connect the Santa Rosa community with high-wage job opportunities and further support the growth of the aerospace industry,” DeSantis said in the release. “As an important military community, Santa Rosa has access to a talented workforce, making it a great place for aerospace and defense companies to do business.”

Earlier this month, the county received a $6.4 million Defense Community Infrastructure Partnership grant from the federal government for the same project. That grant had been set aside for states and communities to use for infrastructure enhancements to support military value and the training of cadets.

Access to the bigger grants was largely made possible, Ogletree said, by the county's receiving a $1.5 million state appropriation in June.

NAS Whiting Field in Milton is the base on which 100% of all initial helicopter training for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines takes place.

Whiting Field Aviation Park is a county industrial park whose development adjacent to Whiting Field has been a success story as a state, county and military collaboration.

A 113,000 square foot Leonardo Helicopters Florida Support Center is being built at the Aviation Park and Ogletree said the taxiway/apron connecting the base and aviation park should serve to lure other aviation-related businesses to Santa Rosa County.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Whiting Field Aviation Park gets $4.2 million for taxiway construction