Employ Florida Banner Centers

Helping to grow the skilled energy workforce is the central objective of the Employ Florida Banner Center for Energy, which is based at and led by Indian River State College (IRSC). Originally based at Lake Sumter Community College, the Banner Center set out in January 2007 with a focus on developing curricula and increasing training opportunities for electric utility line workers and power plant employees. The Banner Center’s mission is to:

• Serve as a resource center for electric utility education and training in Florida
• Promote energy-related career opportunities
• Facilitate ongoing communication between energy providers in Florida
• Understand the needs and workforce issues of the energy industry
• Bring together industry, education, economic development and workforce entities to help meet identified needs and resolve issues

Originally a key partner in this initiative, Indian River State College, in conjunction with its already established and recognized Power Plant Technology Institute, took a lead role in developing new, industry-shaped curricula for training for in-demand occupations in power generation such as power plant operators and maintenance mechanics. Other founding partners of the Banner Center for Energy are: Gulf Power and Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Critical to the efforts of this Banner Center, and underscoring the urgency and significance of its work, are the recognized workforce needs of the electric utility industry. As noted in the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, that more than half of today’s electric utility workforce will be eligible for retirement over the next 10 years. The positions that will experience the highest rates of attrition will be in the skilled/craft employee ranks.

Helping to shape the industry-driven curriculum and training created by the Banner Center for Energy are:

• Florida Power & Light
• Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
• Workforce Central Florida
• Florida Municipal Electric Association
• Fort Pierce Utilities
• Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast
• Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County
• TECO Energy
• Gulf Power
• Progress Energy
• Workforce Florida
• Florida Electric Cooperative Association
• CLM Workforce
• Florida Public Utilities
• Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa & Walton Counties
• Okaloosa County Schools
• JEA
• Orlando Utilities Commission
• Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative
• Enterprise Florida
• Center for Energy Workforce Development
• Lakeland Electric
• Sumter County School Board
• Marion Technical Institute
• Gresco Utility Supply
• Utilities Commission, City of New Smyrna Beach

 
Since its start, the Banner Center counts among its accomplishments: the creation of its statewide advisory council comprised of representatives from industry, education, workforce, and economic development; the completion of a needs assessment/gap analysis examining the Florida energy sector’s training needs as well as current opportunities to begin meeting demands for incumbent worker and entry-level training; entry-level training and job placement for line technicians in collaboration with the Orlando Utilities Commission and the City of Bushnell; incumbent worker technical training for utility workers from Sumter Electric and the city of Leesburg.

The Banner Center is focused on a number of goals including: increasing its collaboration and curricula-sharing with career academies to introduce and prepare more high school students for well-paying career opportunities in the energy sector; working to articulate the training created through the center to Associate Degree level requirements for participants who wish to continue their education; expanding mobile training to boost accessibility throughout the state; and implementing Web-based  training to provide online skills development options.

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An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this web site may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.