Hendry County in Florida is preparing for the new Airglades International Airport, a $300 million cargo hub project that could transform the local economy. The plan involves converting a general aviation airport into a logistics center, introducing new industries such as manufacturing, distribution, trade, and logistics. The project is expected to create over 1,400 high-skilled jobs and increase the local tax base [54a5fddd].
However, the county faces challenges in terms of education and workforce readiness. A third of working-age adults in Hendry County lack a high school diploma, and almost half speak a language other than English at home. Educators are working to help residents earn their GEDs and learn English. Efforts to tailor education to serve the county's Black and Latino workforce have faced scrutiny in Florida, where programs factoring race and national origin into treatment are forbidden. The county is also facing teacher shortages and struggles to attract K-12 teachers due to the political climate in Florida [0a6e2acc].
The Federal Aviation Administration's approval is crucial for the project to move forward. Additionally, securing contracts with suppliers in Latin America is essential for the success of the airport development. Community groups and schools in Hendry County are working together to address these challenges and ensure that the local workforce is prepared to support the airport development. Investments in education and retraining programs are being made to improve workforce readiness [54a5fddd] [ffe6701f].
Despite the obstacles, Hendry County is hopeful that the Airglades airport project will bring significant economic benefits to the region. Local leaders see the airport as an opportunity to improve unemployment and poverty rates in the county. They believe that with the right investments in education and workforce development, the project can help uplift the community [0a6e2acc].