IMMOKALEE, Fla.-A groundbreaking in Immokalee Wednesday sparked the creation of dozens of new jobs for the community.

Salazar Machine and Steel will build a 20,000 square foot building at the Immokalee Airport.

"We're looking at 50 new jobs over a period of time and that's going to be immense when you look at Immokalee and the need for full time employment," said Collier County Commissioner James Coletta.

Because agriculture is such a big part of the Immokalee community, some workers struggle when the summer months come around and agriculture fades, leaving them without jobs.

"This is year-round work for local people that would keep them gainfully employed for years to come," Coletta continued.

"We're excited to create more jobs and see Immokalee grow, you know, Immokalee has been growing for the last few years and we're expecting for it to continue," said company President Pete Salazar.

Once the new building is complete, Salazar will move from it's current space at an incubator facility, leaving room for another new small business to grow in their place.

"The only thing we need is more businesses to step up to the plate and were seeing more and more of them all the time stepping up to the plate and showing interest in settling here in Immokalee," said Coletta.

Airport officials say more expansion projects like Salazar's could be on the horizon.

"It's incremental growth and I think that's what we're looking at with Immokalee airport. How do we generate business, how do we improve the quality of life for the residents of Immokalee," said Collier County Airport Authority Director Chris Curry.

the USDA has given more than a billion dollars in loans and grants for the rural development of Florida in the last year.