Drones could be the answer to some of the jobs lost after the space shuttle program was discontinued in Brevard County.

The Space Coast Tech Council is helping former and current aerospace workers learn how to develop a drone business. The council is hosting drone and robotics experts at its sold-out quarterly dinner Thursday in Viera.

Thousands of people were laid off when the space shuttle program ended four years ago. The Space Coast Tech Council said former shuttle workers still have the technical skills that could help land them a job in the drone industry.

"A lot of people are ready to take their smarts and go ahead and start this drone business," said Jerry Olguin, director of the Space Coast Tech Council. "So, what I think is going to happen is you're going to see a lot of one- to 10-employee companies sprouting up."

The Space Coast Tech Council was formed to retain space shuttle workers in the county.

Grant Begley, a drone expert and president of Concepts to Capability Consulting, said drones will help create 3,251 jobs over the next few years in Florida. A lot of those jobs will be in developing drones for agriculture and public safety, he said.

"Florida uses drones for commercial, home, real estate more than any other state in the nation right now and is absolutely a leader," Begley said. "There are more companies being awarded an exemption from the (Federal Aviation Administration) to fly drones in Florida for commercial applications."

Drones are used in the air, as well as at sea, on land and in space.

According to Begley, hurdles for drone development continue to be public perception, politics and policy.

Space Coast leaders hope that as regulations relax, more drone businesses will form.