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Employ Florida Banner Centers |
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Increasing the talent pool, specifically water and wastewater technicians, for Florida’s water sector is the aim of the Employ Florida Banner Center for Water Resources. Started in July 2009, the Banner center is located at St. Petersburg College (SPC) and is centered on addressing the lack of workers available to the sector as well as the lack of needed skill in workers that are available to the sector. Founding partners in the initiative include Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida, WorkNet Pinellas, Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance and the Pasco-Hernando Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Board. Under SPC’s leadership, the Banner Center plans to develop state-of-the-art, industry-driven training and education programs and curricula to meet the current and future workforce needs of Florida’s water utilities. Once it ascertains that the current program is operating effectively, it will implement plans to market and replicate the Banner Center in additional locations statewide. In addition, the Banner Center will assemble five Water Sector Industry Districts compiled of Florida’s five water management districts, six wastewater management districts, 36 water utility companies and myriad private sector employers. Through these water sector industry districts, the Banner Center will, among other things, identify regional water workforce training needs, engage water sector employers and industry in curriculum development and establish the industry buy-in necessary to make the initiative a success. Highlighting the importance of the Banner Center for Water Resources’ work is the critical role the water sector plays in Florida’s ability to meet the most basic needs of its citizens and infrastructure on a daily basis. Over the next five years, 50 percent of the state’s nearly 6,500 water/wastewater utility operators are expected to retire. With them will go their experience and knowledge – the Banner Center for Water Resources hopes to mitigate the impact of losing these workers by creating a pipeline of skilled workers to replace them. |
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