DeSantis has been quietly building Florida's economic fortress while the rest of the country sleeps.
Now he’s dropping millions on quantum technology and aerospace training.
And Ron DeSantis just handed Palm Beach $5 million for a workforce program that China doesn’t want Americans to have.
Florida's Getting The Workers China's Desperate To Keep
DeSantis awarded the grants through Florida's Job Growth Grant Fund on Thursday.
Palm Beach State College grabbed $4.95 million for a quantum computing workforce program that trains people in eight weeks flat.
Broward College landed $908,000 for accelerated aviation maintenance training with a 100% student retention rate.
But here's what matters—this isn't about job creation.
It's about who controls the technologies that'll run the next century.
https://twitter.com/BDBPalmBeach/status/2022071493455478978?s=20
The Quantum Race Nobody's Talking About
Quantum technology is the nuclear arms race of the 2020s, except most Americans have no idea it's happening.
China's been dumping billions into quantum research while we debated pronouns.
The European Union just mandated its countries transition to post-quantum cryptography by 2030 because quantum computers will crack every encryption system we currently use.
That means your bank accounts, military communications, nuclear launch codes—all of it becomes readable the moment someone builds a working quantum computer.
Florida's new program at Palm Beach State will pump out 570 trained workers over the next decade in quantum computing, cybersecurity, and cryptography.
These aren't office jobs.
These are the people who'll protect America's secrets when quantum computers come online.
The White House is reportedly preparing an executive order on quantum technology focused on workforce development and manufacturing capacity.
DeSantis is already building the pipeline.
This Isn't Random Grant Money
Since 2019, Florida's Job Growth Grant Fund has dropped $305 million statewide.
That's created 41,000 jobs and 32,000 workforce training opportunities.
But look at where the money's going lately.
Melbourne's getting $2.5 million for aerospace maintenance facilities that serve both commercial and military operations.
https://twitter.com/Floridianpress/status/2021987085411082474?s=20
Not just commercial.
Military.
Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly said these investments support "the foundations of workforce readiness for our aviators, cybersecurity, cryptography, secure communications and data."
Translation: Florida's building the skilled workforce for national defense operations Trump will need when he takes the gloves off with China.
The Job Growth Grant Fund used to spread money around for general economic development.
Now it's laser-focused on aerospace, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and military defense industries.
That's not economic policy.
That's strategic positioning.
While Biden Slept, Florida Built The Future
McKinsey found there's one qualified quantum candidate for every three quantum jobs.
MIT's Quantum Index Report shows quantum job postings in America have tripled since 2018.
The talent gap is massive and growing.
China knows whoever controls quantum technology controls the global economy and military dominance for the next 50 years.
DeSantis is building Florida into the training ground for the workforce that'll keep America ahead.
China's not waiting four years.
We can't either.
Since DeSantis took office, Florida's added 3.8 million new businesses and built an economy worth nearly $1.8 trillion—making it the 15th largest economy in the world.
Not the 15th largest state economy.
The 15th largest economy period.
Florida now ranks #1 in the nation for economic growth for three straight years while DeSantis positioned the state as the national hub for the industries that'll matter most when the real competition with China heats up.
This $8 million isn't about workforce development.
It's about building the arsenal.
Sources:
- Kennedy Owens, "DeSantis awards $8M in job growth grants for Florida workforce, infrastructure projects," Florida News, February 12, 2026.
- "Governor Ron DeSantis Awards More Than $8 Million Through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund," Executive Office of the Governor, February 12, 2026.
- "How we upskill quantum talent for a quantum-safe future," World Economic Forum, 2025.
- "White House Drafting Executive Order to Reshape U.S. Quantum Policy," The Quantum Insider, February 4, 2026.
- "National Quantum Initiative Supplement to the President's FY 2025 Budget," quantum.gov, 2024.
- "Governor Ron DeSantis Announces the Floridians First 2026-2027 Budget," Executive Office of the Governor, 2025.
