PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Charlotte County Public Schools just received $1.4 million in grants to create advanced manufacturing programs.

“This included $600,000 for Port Charlotte High School’s new Advanced Manufacturing program starting in August 2025 and Charlotte Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing program starting in January 2026,” said the director of career and technical education for Charlotte County Public Schools, Brian Granstra. .

Victoria Scott

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

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

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

Charlotte County Public Schools receives 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 the aerospace industry in Florida,” he said.

Granstra also told Scott that he aligns with Governor DeSantis’ vision for workforce education.

“We want every student to have the opportunity to choose their own E — whether they are employed, enlisted or enrolled at high school graduation,” Granstra said.

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

It is a company specializing in air coils for cruise ships and cargo ships.

Victoria Scott

“We’re a relatively new manufacturer in the area and we’re growing,” said Vestas USA Air Coil Managing Director Christopher Bergljung. “Having a support like them to build technical expertise for the new employees we will hire is very important to us.”

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

Adults who have already graduated high school will have to pay tuition.

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