As marine aquaculture continues to develop and expand in the United States, opportunities to work, conduct research, or provide outreach in aquaculture are also expanding. In support of sustainable marine aquaculture, environmental literacy, and workforce development, Florida Sea Grant (FSG) has created internships, fellowships, and other aquaculture-based opportunities for students and professionals. In 2020, FSG initiated the Helping Aquaculture Reap Value and Enhance Student Training (HARVEST) program in which students were given internships with aquaculture businesses, offering them the chance to expand their knowledge and professional network in aquaculture while also supporting aquaculture businesses on public outreach, productivity, sustainability, or efficiency. In 2022, FSG started the Aquaculture Outreach and Communications Graduate Fellowship program to provide an opportunity to early career aquaculture specialists to gain professional experience and training related to aquaculture. In this talk, I will describe my experiences as a 2021 recipient of the HARVEST internship for which I worked with Ocean Era to develop a Manual for Aquaculture Permitting Pathway (MAPP), detailing the company’s experience obtaining federal permits for the Velella Epsilon demonstration project in the Gulf of Mexico. I will also discuss my role as the 2023 inaugural fellow for FSG’s new Graduate Fellowship. For the fellowship, I will be conducting research on perceptions of aquaculture, particularly regarding Velella Epsilon in South Florida, and supporting FSG’s aquaculture-based outreach efforts over the next year. These FSG programs provide a model for how cross-sectoral opportunities can offer both mentoring and training to students, and support to government and industry.