Aviation academy ground broken

KILN, Miss. - Pearl River Community College (PRCC) broke ground Tuesday on the Phil Bryant Aviation and Aerospace Workforce Academy in Hancock County, across from Stennis International Airport. It's possible thanks to a $2 million grant from the Department of Economic Development Administration (EDA), matched with more than $3.9 million in state and local investments. It's expected to help create 469 jobs, retain 550 jobs, and generate $5 million in private investments. The academy will be an estimated 25,000 square feet that will consist of eight classrooms, five labs, reception area, faculty and staff offices, and more. Part of the complex will be a hangar of some 18,000 square feet and will consist of two classrooms with labs, open hangar area with hands-on lab stations. The facility is expected to be complete in 2021. Students will be able to study welding, precision manufacturing, instrumentation, industrial electronics, and more. (Sources: WLOX, 12/03/19, PRCC, 12/04/19)