The City of North Port has received a $1.69 million award to the City of North Port through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for the installation of water and wastewater infrastructure across 500 acres at the Panacea Activity Center. The City of North Port is matching the state’s investment; the project could create as many as 9,700 new jobs.

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and chosen by the governor to meet the demands for workforce training or infrastructure needs in communities around the state. In 2020-21, $74 million in awards have been allocated for projects that focus on developing a skilled workforce and on infrastructure initiatives that attract businesses, create jobs and promote economic growth.