Workforce Florida, Inc. has set aside about
$8 million to establish leading programs that focus on
creating and providing up-to-date training for workers
in industries that are critical to sustaining and growing
Florida’s
diverse economy.
Most of the centers are based at Florida community colleges
or universities. They engage educational institutions,
businesses, and workforce and economic development partners,
among others, to provide a focal point for industry-specific
skills training. They also serve as clearinghouses for
companies needing training, create relevant and rigorous
new curricula for entry-level and advanced workers who
need to upgrade their skills, and ensure training and education
offered in Florida meets industry standards.
The Employ Florida Banner Center for Career Academies,
however, has a slightly different, though complementary,
mission. Led by the Okaloosa County School District, it
will provide technical support to school districts wanting
to start new career academies in secondary schools or overhaul
existing programs and it will develop standards and accountability
measures for high school career education programs.
There are 11 Employ Florida Banner Centers throughout
Florida. The industries they serve and the lead institutions
are:
Industry Sector |
Lead Institution |
Alternative Energy |
University of Central Florida's Florida Solar Energy
Center (Cocoa) |
Aviation/Aerospace |
Florida Community College at Jacksonville and
Brevard
Community College (Jacksonville and Cocoa) |
Biotechnology |
University of Florida (Gainesville) |
Career Academies |
Okaloosa County School District (Fort Walton Beach) |
Construction |
Santa Fe Community College (Gainesville) |
Digital Media |
Seminole Community College |
Energy |
Lake-Sumter Community College (Leesburg) |
Financial Services |
Miami Dade College (Miami) |
Health Sciences |
Valencia Community College (Orlando) |
Homeland Security |
Indian River Community College (Fort Pierce) |
Logistics & Distribution |
Lake City Community College (Lake City) |
Manufacturing |
Hillsborough Community College (Tampa) |
To find out more about the
Employ Florida Banner Centers initiative, please read
the Q&A (pdf,
33K).
For more information about each Banner Center, use the
following links:
Aviation/Aerospace
Biotechnology
Career Academies
Construction
Energy
Financial Services
Health Sciences
Homeland Security
Logistics & Distribution
Manufacturing
|