Tallahassee, Fla.– Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced the school districts, universities, colleges and private institutions who have been awarded with the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant.
During the 2019 Legislative Session, Governor DeSantis worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic funding for Florida’s students and families, including $10 million dedicated to career and technical education for the newly created Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program. The program provides competitive grants to eligible institutions to create or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Of the $10 million in state funding, nearly $3 million still remains.
“Ensuring for a talented, well-educated workforce matters for the success of Florida’s economy and the health of our democracy, and I am thrilled to award these institutions with the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant,” said Governor DeSantis. “By investing in workforce education and apprenticeship programs, we are ensuring Florida’s students will have new opportunities and career paths. I am committed to making sure Florida is on track to being the best state in the nation for workforce education by 2030, and this grant creates the conditions for the talented workforce our state needs.”
“Governor DeSantis has remained committed to expanding opportunities to build a strong workforce in Florida, and this grant is just another way we will ensure Floridians have access to a world-class education and a highly skilled workforce,” said DOE Commissioner Richard Corcoran. “Statewide interest is at an all-time high, and this grant will have a positive impact on the lives of Florida’s students for years to come.”
“We stand behind Governor DeSantis and our partners throughout the state as they advance career paths for all Floridians,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Ken Lawson. “Providing diverse career training opportunities for Floridians throughout the state will continue to grow and evolve our workforce, communities and economy.”
“Governor DeSantis continues to demonstrate his commitment to strengthening workforce education and training, including apprenticeships, with today’s announcement of $7 million in grants awarded to education and business entities statewide to expand these programs,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard. “Apprenticeships are a proven solution for businesses to recruit, train and retain highly skilled workers, and the CareerSource Florida network is honored to be working closely with our state partners to help more employers build their own apprenticeships and other training programs to meet critical talent needs.”
The school districts listed below have received funding:
Bay School District
Welding
Brevard School District
Plumber/Pipefitter/Sheet Metal Worker
Machinist
Plumber/Pipefitter & Steamfitter/Sheet Metal Worker/ Electrician
Broward School District
Machinist
Yacht Service Technician
Collier School District
HVAC-R
Flagler School District
HVAC/Electrician
Hillsborough School District
Tampa Ironworkers Pre-apprenticeship
Lake School District
Construction Technologies
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Marion School District
Carpentry
Orange School District
Pharmacy
Welding
Osceola School District
Automotive Service (2)
Building Construction
Palm Beach School District
Heating and Air Installer
Pinellas School District
Teaching
Santa Rosa School District
Heating and Air Installer and Servicing/Plumbing/Pipefitters/Steamfitters
Seminole School District
Construction Trades
St. Lucie School District
Manufacturing
Carpentry
The colleges listed below have received funding:
College of Central Florida
Hospitality Management
Daytona State College
Plumbing
Hillsborough Community College
Electrical Contractors
Indian River State College
Pharmacy
Welding Fabricator
Culinary Operations Management
Electrician
Miami Dade College
Help Desk Tech/Customs Broker/Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Riggings and System Assemblers/Accountant/Management Analyst
Northwest Florida State College
Machinist
Plumbing
Carpentry
South Florida State College
Advanced Patient Care Tech
The universities listed below have received funding:
Florida International University
ABC Institute Electrical Apprenticeship Program/Plumbers Contractors Association
The private institutions listed below have received funding:
ICTC Governing Board dba AMskills
Manufacturing
For more information on the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program, visit www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.