Related videos:
One of the poorest areas in Florida, Hendry County, is preparing for the new Airglades International Airport, a $300 million cargo hub that could transform its economy.
The project, pending approval, is notable for its prime location just five miles outside of Clewiston and 90 miles west of Miami. The idea is to convert a general aviation airport into a logistics center, equipped with runways and adjacent space, as stated by Business View in an interview with Lillie B. Rentz, manager of Airglades International Airport.
"Hendry County has always been primarily known for its agribusiness," Rentz stated. "Our project will bring new industries to the area: manufacturing, distribution, trade, and logistics. If you fly over Hendry County, all you see are farms, a lot of agricultural land, and in my opinion, an area where people can come in and grow their businesses."
“Hendry has one of the highest unemployment rates in Florida, so working on this project offers many promising opportunities for the area, including not only an increase in the local tax base but also abundant job opportunities as a result of the project,” the businesswoman affirmed.
The plan to convert the small county-owned airport into private property still needs to gain approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will partly depend on consolidating contracts with suppliers in Latin America to demonstrate its potential as a perishable goods hub.
According to Business View, the Airglades International Airport could become a "fully equipped modern alternative focused solely on the perishable goods market," considering that the Miami International Airport, the busiest in the U.S. for importing cargo and perishable products, is reaching its limits.
Local leaders view the project as a generational opportunity that could bring more than 1,400 new high-skilled jobs to their predominantly agricultural community on the edge of the Everglades, as highlighted in a recent report by the AP agency.
"We have one of the most beautiful areas in the country," said Michael Swindle, the county schools superintendent, and yet, "according to all the metrics used to evaluate a county, we are either number 1 or number 2 in negative categories."
However, to achieve significant dividends, educators in the region will need to overcome some harsh realities, including the fact that a third of working-age adults do not have a high school diploma, while nearly half speak a language other than English, representing one of the highest percentages in Florida.
Community groups and schools are working to address the shortage of teachers and to invest in adult education.
Meanwhile, two adult education centers expanded with the support of Future Makers Coalition, a community organization that has been leading educational retraining efforts throughout Southwest Florida. The organization is also funding a counselor to help students develop new skills.
Spanish-speaking students have filled the adult education center in LaBelle, the county seat with a population of 5,000.
At the other adult education center in the county, located in Clewiston, dozens of students wearing thick gloves and respirator masks are working to obtain the industrial certifications required to enter the workforce.
Samantha Garza, 21, initially studied childcare at a community college in Fort Myers but changed her career path after watching welding videos on YouTube. "I felt that this would be a career for me," she told AP.
Even before they arrive at the airport, there are many local employers eager to hire students. In fact, U.S. Sugar, the agricultural giant based in Clewiston, has such urgent needs that it has initiated an internal project aimed at improving the quality of life in the area.
Filed under: