Apalachicola, Fla. (November 8, 2005) –The St. Joe Community Foundation announced today it was awarding a $50,000 grant to the Franklin County School District to help fund the development of the Construction Technology Institute, which will be run through the Franklin County Career Institute. This grant allowed for the Franklin County School District to secure additional funding for the Institute through Florida’s Workforce Development Board.  

“This grant by The St. Joe Community Foundation allows for eligible students to have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized credentials in the construction trades and the ability to obtain good-paying jobs locally, nationally or internationally,” said Jo Ann Gander, superintendent, Franklin County School Board. “Now, high school students can leave high school not only with their diploma, but also with a nationally-recognized skills certification and college credit.”

The Construction Technology Institute offers a two-year program of study in the construction trades designed to produce qualified, technically trained and nationally certified individuals ready to be employed in the construction industry. In order to be eligible for the Institute, students must be in the 11^th grade and must have received a passing score on the 10^th grade FCAT.

“This grant will provide an incentive for students who normally drop out of school to stay in school, graduate with a degree and learn a certified skill in the construction industry,” said Billy Buzzett, vice president of the Board of Trustees of The St. Joe Community Foundation. “Clearly these students will have the opportunity to benefit because of the changing dynamics of the community.”

About The St. Joe Community Foundation

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) created The St. Joe Community Foundation (STJCF) in 1999 to invest in community initiatives that pay long-term returns on the quality of life in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, and Walton counties.

Since its inception, STJCF has granted more than $4.5 million to the region; $2 million of which was granted in 2004. Grants to date for 2005 exceed $650,000. STJCF’s unique funding structure is based on payments from JOE that are a percentage of the proceeds from new sales in specific JOE communities.  Payments continue each time the properties are resold through deed covenants requiring a transfer fee to be paid to STJCF each time a property is subsequently sold.  In this way, JOE, and the property owners who live in our neighborhoods are partnering with the community for the betterment of the entire region.

Focused primarily on education, regional health care delivery, art and culture, parks and recreation, and community spirit, STJCF investments are based on building civic infrastructure and providing ongoing improvements in the region through grants and initiatives that promote teaching and learning and create healthier communities.  To learn more about STJCF, log on to www.stjcf.com. 

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