Congressman Patronis Tackles Permitting, Infrastructure, and Workforce on Beyond the Build Podcast

Congressman Jimmy Patronis, representing Florida’s First Congressional District and a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently joined Kelvin Enfinger, Vice President at Greenhut Construction and past chair of ABC North Florida, on the podcast Beyond the Build. The discussion centered on three critical issues facing the construction industry: permitting delays, infrastructure funding, and workforce shortages. Patronis highlighted that excessive permitting delays lead to mounting soft costs—legal, engineering, and survey expenses—that erode project margins without moving any dirt. He criticized the institutional culture within agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, where permit denial is often the default, and noted that new Corps leadership shows interest in reform. With a cooperative White House and majority in both chambers, Patronis sees a window for meaningful permitting reform.

On infrastructure funding, Patronis pointed to the surface transportation authorization bill as a priority, which will direct federal spending to roads and bridges. He championed the Warrior Road Act to improve access to Hurlburt Field and the broader military corridor, and noted the US Department of Transportation’s $489 million port infrastructure development program as signals of continued investment. Enfinger asked whether this level of commitment will persist, and Patronis gave a measured but optimistic answer, citing a motivated outgoing class of members and an aligned administration.

The workforce gap was also addressed, with Enfinger citing a national shortage of 360,000 construction workers. Patronis drew on his own background—starting with a culinary arts degree and working with his hands—to argue that skilled trades build confidence and opportunity. He emphasized that creating something tangible offers a satisfaction that tests cannot provide, and urged young people to consider trades as a foundation, not a fallback. The conversation underscored that solving the workforce pipeline requires policy support, institutional buy-in, and authentic testimony from public officials.