Congresswoman Kat Cammack, Florida Gateway College Announce $3 Million Federal Grant for New Construction Trades Center
LAKE CITY, Fla. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) joined Florida Gateway College (FGC) leaders on the college’s Lake City campus today to announce a $3 million federal grant, the largest in the college’s history, to build a new Building Construction Technology Center and launch trades programs for students across rural North Florida.
Rep. Cammack backed FGC’s application with a letter of support. The five-year award comes through the Strengthening Institutions Program, a U.S. Department of Education program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This year’s competition prioritized rural institutions and programs that build career pathways and workforce readiness.
"North Central Florida is full of folks who build things with their hands, and they shouldn't have to leave home to learn a trade. This center means they won't have to,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “Florida Gateway put together a winning plan, and I was proud to back it. This is a federal investment done right, and I can't wait to see the first class walk into that lab."
Rep. Cammack was joined by FGC President Dr. Lawrence Barrett, State Rep. Chuck Brannan, an FGC Trustee, and Kathy Hebda, Chancellor of the Division of Florida Colleges at the Florida Department of Education.
“This grant is a tremendous investment in our college, our students, and the future of North Central Florida. The Building Construction program will create new opportunities for students to build skills, earn credentials, and pursue rewarding careers without having to leave the communities they call home. We’re grateful for the support that made this project possible, and we are excited to get to work,” said FGC President Dr. Lawrence Barrett.
The grant will renovate an existing campus building for classroom space and add a 4,800-square-foot construction lab with modern tools and technology, new HVAC and exhaust systems, and upgraded electrical and IT capabilities. FGC will use the funding to create two stackable programs, a Building Construction Specialist certificate and a Building Construction Technology Associate in Science degree, so students can choose how far they go and which credentials they earn.
Year one of the grant, funded at $1,583,000, covers the building renovation and the foundation for the new lab. Construction, equipment purchases, and curriculum development follow in year two, with classes expected to begin in fall 2028.
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