Palm Beach State College Secures $2 Million Federal Funding for Quantum Innovation Center
Palm Beach State College (PBSC) jus announced that it has received more than $2 million in federal funding to develop a Quantum Innovation Center, a new hub for education, research, and industry collaboration in the College’s Historic Building downtown.
The funding, approved through a Community Project Funding request by U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, follows this month’s $4.95 million award from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, bringing total public investment in the project to nearly $7 million. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Historic Building, attended by PBSC leadership, Frankel, and representatives from the Business Development Board (BDB) of Palm Beach County.
A Hub for Quantum and Emerging Technologies
The Quantum Innovation Center, developed in partnership with the BDB and Quantum Coast Capital, will serve as a regional hub for workforce training in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and related high-tech fields. The center will feature advanced laboratory and co-working spaces designed to host startups, train students, and attract emerging technology companies to Palm Beach County.
The BDB also received $1.03 million in companion funding to support the Center’s entrepreneurial and programming initiatives, which aim to bridge research with commercial applications.
“Technology is changing faster than ever,” Frankel said. “Employers across the country are searching for workers skilled in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing—fields that will shape our economy, national security, and daily lives for years to come.”
Preparing a Quantum-Ready Workforce
PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D., emphasized the collaborative effort behind the initiative. “This partnership demonstrates what is possible when education, government, and business align around a shared vision,” Parker said. “Together, we’re preparing students and residents for high-wage, high-demand jobs that will make Palm Beach County a leader in innovation.”
The nearly 100-year-old Historic Building will undergo modernization to accommodate next-generation technology companies. PBSC will also launch Florida’s first public Quantum Systems Certification Program, positioning the College as a statewide leader in preparing a quantum-ready workforce.
Industry and Economic Impact
Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the BDB, described the award as the largest funding the organization has ever received. She credited Hillary Matchett and Matt Cimaglia, cofounders of Quantum Coast Capital, for introducing the board to the commercial potential of quantum technologies. “Our vision is to take it out of the lab and into the marketplace,” Smallridge said.
PBSC Associate Dean of Computer Science Dr. Luis Pentzke, whose vision helped launch the initiative, outlined the College’s plans to acquire quantum computer hardware, control systems, and measurement equipment. “Quantum computing is progressing incredibly fast,” Pentzke said. “Our job at Palm Beach State is to ensure our students and workforce training programs are keeping pace with that progress.”
A Center for Collaboration and Innovation
Once completed, the Quantum Innovation Center will anchor the next phase of Palm Beach County’s leadership in technology and education, linking academia, business, and government. The center is expected to drive research, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth, cementing the region as a hub for Florida’s emerging Quantum Coast.
