AGP Executive Report

Workforce & Training: Northwest Shoals Community College’s FAME team took second nationally at the 2026 FAME National Conference in Jacksonville, presenting lean problem-solving solutions and earning runner-up honors in the advanced “Second Year Students Presenting MCE 4” category. Energy & Grid Resilience: A new look at U.S. power planning says extreme heat is shifting from a tail risk to a design baseline, with reliability groups flagging early-summer heat overlapping spring maintenance as a recurring concern. Advanced Manufacturing & Materials: Helios Horizon says it completed the first human-piloted flight using solid-state battery propulsion out of Zephyrhills, aiming to make electric aviation more viable with better range and faster charging. Space Tech for Industry: NASA Kennedy sent a deployable wastewater treatment system to the University of North Dakota to test separate-stream recycling for long-duration Moon/Mars missions. Policy for Florida Agriculture: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart backed House passage of the FY27 agriculture and FDA funding bill, including major citrus health support. Solar Industry Move: Suniva and SUNation signed a definitive reverse merger deal to accelerate U.S. solar cell manufacturing under the Suniva name. Events: METALCON returns Oct. 7–9 in Orlando with expanded hands-on training, market outlooks, Florida contractor CE credits, and a new Spanish-language Latino Track.

Nuclear Supply Chain: AMPERA says it has formed an Australian subsidiary to secure thorium from Australia and vertically integrate thorium fuel production for its U.S. supercritical nuclear energy system, aiming to support advanced microreactors. Satellite Broadband: The FCC granted Amazon Leo a conditional waiver to miss an interim July 30 launch deadline for 1,616 satellites, while still requiring full deployment of 3,232 Gen 1 satellites by July 2029. Public Safety Tech: 3AM Innovations integrated BK Technologies radio location data into its FLORIAN platform, letting agencies track analog and digital radios in real time for incident command. Food Manufacturing Expansion: Gelatys opened an $8m, 30,000 sq. ft. frozen gelato facility in Fort Myers, boosting production speed and scaling its Mini Gems line. Solar Industry Deal: SUNation Energy and Suniva signed a definitive reverse merger to create a combined company expected to expand U.S. solar cell manufacturing under the Suniva name. Autonomous Defense Manufacturing: Quantum Cyber’s subsidiary signed an LOI to buy a Bridgeport, Connecticut manufacturing site and equipment to produce drone airframe components and related hardware. Florida Legal/Consumer: A Florida family filed suit against Campbell’s and Walmart over alleged worm/parasite contamination in SpaghettiOs.

Food Safety & Litigation: A Florida mother and daughter filed suit against Campbell’s and Walmart alleging they ate SpaghettiOs with “worms or parasites” and later suffered serious illness, while both companies say they’ll fight the claims. Space & Advanced Manufacturing: Blue Origin is expanding in Merritt Island with a $600M project to build an ~830,000-square-foot facility making New Glenn upper stages, targeting 500 Brevard jobs. Biotech & Industrial R&D: The University of Miami opened a $5M 3D-bioprinting lab to produce tissue and bone using living cells and biomaterials, aiming at regenerative medicine and drug development. Aerospace Leadership: NASA named Brian Hughes as the new Kennedy Space Center director, citing infrastructure needs as launch cadence rises. Defense Contracting (Florida-linked): An Air Force contract for Joint Strike Missile production lists Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, as the contracting activity. Policy & Compliance: A CDC update says a moringa-linked Salmonella outbreak now totals 119 cases across 36 states, with additional recalls expanding the affected product lots. Local Governance: Miami-Dade moved toward eminent domain to take over a Fisher Island fuel depot after a failed purchase plan, keeping PortMiami fuel supply in focus. Workforce & Training: OSM Aviation Academy secured a five-year lease to scale pilot training at Drake Field in Fayetteville, with plans for 100 aircraft and 700 graduates annually.

Aerospace Expansion: Blue Origin is expanding its Merritt Island, Florida manufacturing footprint with a $600M project to build an ~830,000-square-foot facility producing New Glenn rocket upper stages, backed by Florida’s Spaceport Improvement Program and aimed at creating 500 Brevard jobs. Spaceport Leadership: NASA Kennedy Space Center named Air Force veteran Brian Hughes as director, with a focus on upgrading aging infrastructure to match today’s faster launch cadence. Biotech Manufacturing: The University of Miami opened a $5M 3D-bioprinting lab for regenerative medicine, including rapid prosthetic ear production and patient-specific tissue and bone research. Workforce & Industry: Florida is seeing more residents pivot into trade jobs as unemployment worries and AI uncertainty push workers toward lower-barrier, in-demand skills. Legal/AI Compliance: Florida’s Supreme Court updated rules requiring attorneys to verify legal authorities in filings after “hallucinated” AI cases. Food Safety: The CDC expanded a Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa products to 119 cases across 36 states, with additional recalls underway.

Aerospace Expansion: Blue Origin is expanding its Merritt Island, Florida manufacturing footprint with a $600M “Project Horizon” buildout to produce New Glenn upper stages, targeting about 500 Brevard jobs and supported by Florida’s Spaceport Improvement Program. Biotech & Manufacturing R&D: The University of Miami opened a $5M 3D-bioprinting lab that uses living cells and biomaterials to print tissue and bone, aiming at regenerative medicine, drug development, and patient-specific models. Energy & Grid Policy: A Florida Supreme Court ruling tightens AI use in court filings by requiring attorneys to verify cited legal authorities and allowing sanctions for fabricated “hallucinations.” Workforce Trends: More Florida workers are shifting toward trade jobs as people seek faster entry and job security amid AI-driven uncertainty. Public Safety: A Flagler County teen on an electric scooter collided with a deputy’s patrol car after running a stop sign; officials released the video as a reminder of e-scooter safety. GLP-1 Supply Chain: Goldman Sachs says semaglutide generic pricing after 2031/32 will hinge less on demand and more on peptide API manufacturing capacity, with China leading synthetic API supply.

Aerospace Expansion: Blue Origin is pushing ahead with a $600 million expansion at its Merritt Island, Florida Rocket Park campus, building an ~830,000-square-foot facility to produce New Glenn rocket upper stages and create about 500 Brevard County jobs, backed by Florida’s Spaceport Improvement Program. Advanced Manufacturing & Health Tech: The University of Miami opened a $5 million 3D-bioprinting lab focused on regenerative medicine, including 3D-printed tissue and bone, plus patient-specific surgical models and drug-delivery microneedles. Legal & Compliance: The Florida Supreme Court amended rules for AI use in court filings, requiring attorneys to verify that cited legal authorities actually exist and are accurate, with sanctions possible for “hallucinated” citations. Workforce Shift: More Floridians are moving into trade careers as job security concerns rise, with training programs reporting growing demand for skilled roles. Policy Watch: A Florida lawmaker proposal would restrict enhanced-use leases for data centers unless key equipment isn’t tied to certain countries, including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

AI in Courts: The Florida Supreme Court amended rules to require attorneys to verify that legal authorities cited in filings actually exist, after AI tools produced “hallucinated” cases. Workforce Shift: More Florida workers are moving into trade jobs like construction and carpentry as unemployment worries rise and AI reshapes hiring. Manufacturing & Defense: Apex Space & Defense Systems acquired Gainesville’s Oak Engineering to expand U.S. composite manufacturing capacity for uncrewed aerial and surface systems. Local Industry Growth: Jacksonville approved a $2M build-out for USPly at Eastport Exchange, aiming for occupancy this fall. Energy Costs: A new map shows residential electricity prices vary widely across the U.S., from 12¢/kWh in North Dakota to 42¢/kWh in Hawaii. Public Safety & Planning: Florida Power & Light shared hurricane prep guidance for homes and businesses, including evacuation planning and generator safety. Border Tech: The Pentagon is using solar-powered “drone boats” to patrol the Rio Grande, with Florida-linked Seasats supplying Lightfish vessels.

Defense Policy & Bases: The House Armed Services Committee advanced the National Defense Authorization Act, authorizing $1.15T and pushing back on Pentagon officer firings and divisive base renaming, while formalizing the “Department of War” label. Florida Courts & AI: Florida’s Supreme Court amended rules so attorneys must verify legal authorities cited in filings after AI “hallucinations” led to fictional cases and sanctions risk. North Jacksonville Industrial Growth: City permits cleared a $2M build-out for USPly at Eastport Exchange, bringing the first tenant to the North Jacksonville industrial park with 113,750 sq. ft. targeted for fall occupancy. Defense Manufacturing Expansion (Florida): Apex Space & Defense Systems acquired Oak Engineering and Manufacturing in Gainesville to expand U.S. composite capacity for UAV/USV and other uncrewed platforms. Workforce Pipeline in Orlando: FETC 2027 will add a Career and Technical Education track in Orlando to tackle skills shortages with featured educators and job-linked training. Energy & Grid Costs: A new map shows residential electricity prices swinging from 12¢ to 42¢ per kWh nationwide, with Hawaii far higher—an operating-cost reminder for manufacturers. AI in Manufacturing: Catamount Machine Works CEO says AI can boost documentation, workflow automation, and predictive maintenance only when shop processes are disciplined.

Florida Economic Development: A city council approved up to $3.5M in property tax incentives to lure a $124M, 130,000-square-foot healthcare manufacturing plant creating 148 jobs, with the company making precision injection-molded components for high-speed automated assembly. Space & Defense Manufacturing: SpaceX filed for a massive IPO targeting $135 per share, while Daher reported a key CFRTP wing rib demonstrator test that survived beyond ultimate load—both signals of momentum in aerospace supply chains. Aerospace Supply Chain in Florida: Final SLS booster motor segments for Artemis III shipped to NASA Kennedy from Northrop Grumman’s Utah facility, underscoring Florida’s role in major rocket manufacturing. Industrial Quality & Metrology: F. D. Hurka Metrology warned manufacturers about six common setup errors that can throw off vision measurement accuracy, a practical reminder for ISO 9001/17025 shops. Consumer/Compliance Watch: Texas opened an investigation into Florida-based Celsius/Alani Nu over how its energy drinks are marketed to teens, focusing on caffeine and warning disclosures. Workforce & Training: Northwest Shoals Community College’s FAME team placed second nationally in Jacksonville after winning at the Alabama summit, highlighting Florida-area talent pipelines. Industrial Real Estate: Colliers says industrial occupiers increasingly demand reliable power and shorter utility lead times—especially as data centers and energy-intensive users expand.

Hurricane Preparedness for Florida Manufacturers: CBS Miami highlights Florida Power & Light’s push for emergency plans before, during and after storms, including flood-zone checks, evacuation routes, and keeping gas tanks at least half full. Space Coast Supply Chain: Final Artemis III SLS booster motor segments shipped from Northrop Grumman in Utah to NASA Kennedy in Florida, underscoring Florida’s role in high-thrust rocket assembly. Construction Materials in Demand: Cornerstone Building Brands launched Armacoil™ jobsite steel coils through Metal Solutions in Texas and Florida, aimed at faster roll-forming access for contractors. Manufactured Homes Under Extreme Wind: FIU’s Wall of Wind tests manufactured homes with Category 5–level winds, finding installation quality is the make-or-break factor for survival. Autonomous Maritime Expansion: MARTAC opened a San Diego innovation center to accelerate R&D and testing for uncrewed surface vessels, expanding beyond Florida. Port Growth: JAXPORT expansion is positioning Jacksonville as a stronger Asia cargo gateway, with channel deepening and power-line work to handle larger ships. Food Safety Lawsuit: A Florida family sued Campbell Soup and Walmart alleging live worms/parasites in SpaghettiOs, adding pressure on quality control across packaged food manufacturing.

Space Coast Manufacturing: Space Florida approved up to $24.2M for Blue Origin’s Project Horizon, backing an 830,000-sq-ft New Glenn upper-stage manufacturing expansion that targets 500 jobs and about $600M in capital as the company pushes to resume flights later this year. Port & Supply Chain: JAXPORT is moving ahead with major expansion work to handle shifting global shipping routes, positioning Jacksonville as a bigger Asia gateway as more direct cargo runs arrive. Workforce & Training: Santa Fe College in Gainesville broke ground on a $16M Automotive Technology Training Center to start classes in fall 2027, adding advanced diagnostics and simulators for up to 60 students per semester. Local Industry Growth: Washington County approved a tax incentive for Evolution Welding in Chipley, aiming to add 40–60 welding and fabrication jobs with apprenticeships via Florida Panhandle Technical College. Food Safety Lawsuits: A Florida family sued Campbell Soup and Walmart over alleged worm-contaminated SpaghettiOs, claiming serious illness after the product was eaten in 2024. Biotech Policy Gap: A Florida biotech leader argues the state’s biotech momentum is real, but policy and workforce pipelines still lag behind the economic shift.

Space Coast Manufacturing: Space Florida approved up to $24.2M for Blue Origin’s Project Horizon, a planned 830,000-square-foot facility for New Glenn upper stages, targeting 500 jobs and aiming to restart flights before year-end after the recent New Glenn explosion. Panhandle Expansion: Washington County, via Chipley’s industrial park, approved a tax abatement for Evolution Welding’s roll-off dumpster and trailer operation, projecting 40–60 welding and fabrication jobs and partnering with Florida Panhandle Technical College for apprenticeships. Industrial Site Watch: Baker County’s “Plum Creek” 140-acre tract is under contract for a proposed specialty chemical plant (“Project Island”), with officials saying it would involve “no emissions, no stacks,” while local concerns linger after recent chemical-plant incidents elsewhere. Workforce & Facilities: PowerSouth Energy Cooperative is expanding Alabama’s Lowman Energy Center with Mitsubishi Power’s second advanced-class gas turbine under a long-term service agreement, with Burns & McDonnell handling EPC. South Florida Mold Response: FixMold says commercial mold remediation demand has outpaced capacity, so it’s expanding its certified workforce in Miami-Dade and Broward.

Aerospace & Space Coast Watch: Blue Origin says its New Glenn program is still aiming to fly again before year-end after a May 28 explosion at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36; CEO Dave Limp reports key Florida infrastructure (propellant farm and major tanks) survived, while a damaged support tower can be repaired in place. AI & Consumer Data: Florida AG James Uthmeier filed an 83-page civil complaint against OpenAI and Sam Altman, seeking penalties and a court order over alleged child data collection and safety failures tied to ChatGPT. Space Florida Investment: Space Florida approved Project Manta, backing Seagate Space to prototype offshore launch infrastructure elements, aiming to expand Florida’s launch capacity beyond land-based sites. Manufacturing Expansion (Local): Robinson Fans, a century-old industrial fan maker, acquired Specialty Fabrication in Lakeland, adding about 90,000 sq. ft. of metal fabrication capacity and 35+ employees. Tech/Industry Hiring: Duos Technologies received about $50.4M from the sale of New APR Energy assets, reinforcing its Edge AI and data center focus. Policy for Built Environments: Lawmakers advanced the America Bikes Act, bundling safety, infrastructure, education, and domestic manufacturing support for bicycle manufacturing and safer roads. Workforce/Operations (Local Business): RideNow opened a new 25,000 sq. ft. powersports superstore in Gainesville with a larger inventory and expanded showroom capacity. Supply Chain/Health: A salmonella outbreak tied to imported moringa supplements was reopened by federal health agencies after additional illnesses, with multiple brands added to the affected list.

Manufacturing Expansion in Florida: Robinson Fans is buying Lakeland-based Specialty Fabrication, adding about 90,000 sq. ft. of metal fabrication capacity and more than 35 employees to boost vertical integration. Electric Fleet Funding: Highland Electric Fleets raised $75M in preferred equity (total commitments now $150M) to scale electric school buses and charging, citing diesel-driven budget pressure. Local Operations Growth: RenX posted a record delivery quarter at its Myakka City facility, with an independent drone survey putting on-site material at roughly 185,000 cubic yards. Food Manufacturing & Trade Show Push: Mama’s Creations will highlight new deli protein formats and prepared-food meal solutions at IDDBA 2026 in Orlando. Supply Chain Pressure: A transportation pricing survey showed May freight costs surging, with capacity still contracting and utilization staying high. Corporate Footprint Shift: A CBRE report says headquarters relocations accelerated in 2025, with Texas and Florida among the biggest gainers as firms chase lower costs and tax advantages. Defense Tech Manufacturing: Quantum Cyber expanded its BP United relationship, taking direct manufacturing responsibility for licensed drone products. Hurricane Season Prep: FPL offered practical guidance for businesses and residents to plan ahead for Florida’s storm season.

Workplace Safety & Compliance: A new push from OSHA is making EHS/safety managers’ jobs heavier, with more audits, updated safety plans, extra training, and tighter documentation tied to chemical hazard communication, heat illness prevention, emergency response, and workplace violence—so more manufacturers are leaning on centralized compliance tools and safety data management to keep programs current. Florida Storm Readiness: University of Miami researchers are testing hurricane-force winds and storm surge effects on manufactured homes in Key Biscayne to improve how structures are designed and how homeowners prepare. Construction & Building Standards: The 2026 North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS-26) is out, with a key change making the “secondary designator” mandatory on labels and test reports for clearer wind and water performance info during inspections. Local Manufacturing Growth: Hillwood’s AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center in West Jacksonville is seeing renewed prospect activity, including an auto-industry inquiry, as the master developer continues its reporting and site expansion work. Policy & Oversight: DOJ says it will pause its proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” after a court order, as political backlash grows—an example of how federal funding decisions can get delayed by legal challenges.

Hurricane-Ready Construction: Florida Building Commission is rolling out new tower crane and hoisting safety guidelines after a Hurricane Milton-era crane collapse, aiming to standardize storm-readiness steps and clarify who’s responsible on-site. Industrial Real Estate: Byline Bank backed the NASA Causeway Logistics Center in Titusville with a $26.5M construction loan for two industrial buildings totaling about 307,000 sq. ft., targeting warehousing, distribution, manufacturing and aerospace work near Kennedy Space Center. Autonomous Transit Buildout: Jacksonville Transportation Authority added 12 custom bus shelters and 12 digital kiosks for its NAVI autonomous vehicle service, delivered via Balfour Beatty and Tolar Manufacturing. Manufacturing Growth in Florida’s Orbit: Moffitt Speros launched FORGE, a Tampa Bay radiopharmaceutical development and manufacturing push expected to support 4,000 high-wage jobs and $2.6B in impact over a decade. Quality Systems in Miramar: Kimera Labs integrated ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 22716:2007 across its 27,000-sq-ft Miramar facility. Defense-Adjacent Production: MARTAC and Mystic Powerboats announced a co-production partnership to expand domestic capacity for autonomous surface vessel deliveries.