Hillsborough County, Fla. (July 16, 2015) – In support of the Hillsborough County Manufacturing Academy initiative, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved a partnership with Hillsborough Community College (HCC) July 15 to enhance workforce training for manufacturing careers. The County’s $322,000 investment will provide two years of programming enrichment and $80,000 in new and upgraded equipment for functional training.
Under the agreement, HCC will provide training and resources to prepare high school students and graduates, post-secondary school students and graduates, and residents for careers in manufacturing. This includes programs that lead to industry certifications, career-focused summer camps, introducing veterans to manufacturing career opportunities, fast track manufacturing training, outreach activities, aligning curriculum with industry standards to facilitate accelerated degrees, and paid internship opportunities.
Earlier this year, Hillsborough County approved a $325,000 agreement with the Hillsborough County School Board to enhance manufacturing skills training for students participating in specialized programs at Armwood, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Middleton, and Tampa Bay Tech high schools, and Brewster Technical College. The Economic Development Department is collaborating with partners to identify additional ways the County can help increase awareness of production-type jobs, improve the readiness of job candidates, and advance career placement opportunities, with an emphasis on the engagement of women, minorities, and veterans.
About the Hillsborough County Manufacturing Academy Initiative
The Hillsborough County Manufacturing Academy initiative is coordinated by the Hillsborough County Economic Development Department to strengthen the pipeline of local employable manufacturing talent. The initiative uses a hands-on approach to leverage the expertise, network, and resources of several workforce partner agencies, including Hillsborough County Schools, Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida, CareerSource Tampa Bay, private sector manufacturers, Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association, Bay Area Manufacturers Association, Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium, and the National Tool and Machining Association.
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