Florida’s State Budget Delivers $2 Million Appropriation for ABCI Expansion

July 30, 2026

ABC Florida East Coast is celebrating a major legislative victory after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 2026-27 state budget, which includes a $2 million appropriation for the ABC Institute Apprenticeship College’s Hialeah campus. The funding will expand apprenticeship opportunities, add two new training programs to the campus’ existing seven trades, and increase capacity up to 1,200 additional apprentices to help meet Florida’s growing demand for skilled construction professionals.

ABC-FEC extends its sincere appreciation to Representative David Borrero and Senator Ed Hooper, whose leadership and steadfast support were instrumental in securing the appropriation during a challenging legislative session. We also thank legislative consultants Nick Iarossi and Caroline Frasier of Capital City Consulting for their strategic guidance and advocacy throughout the budget process.

The investment represents another significant step in ABC-FEC’s workforce development mission, strengthening the Hialeah campus’s ability to prepare the next generation of skilled construction professionals while helping address the industry’s ongoing workforce shortage.