There are more positions requiring skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, then there are people with the skills to fill those positions, a new Brookings report indicates. But Tampa Bay seems to fill those positions faster.

Read the article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal

CareerSource Tampa Bay and CareerSource Pinellas are offering a unique and exciting Paid Work Experience (PWE) program. The program provides funding assistance to employers who hire long-term unemployed workers looking for paid work experience leading to permanent, full-time employment.
CareerSource will pay 100 percent of the participant’s wages up to $20/hr. for ten weeks.

Find out more at an open house, July 10 from 8am - Noon at EEI Training Center, 700 Pinellas Street, Clearwater, FL 33756

The Bay Area Manufacturing Association is excited to announce that Jesse Panuccio, the State of Florida’s Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, will speak at its Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards Dinner on June 19.

Jesse Panuccio joined the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) as Executive Director on January 8, 2013. The mission of the Dept. of Economic Opportunity is to assist the Governor in advancing Florida’s economy by championing the state’s economic development vision and by administering state and federal programs and initiatives to help visitors, citizens, businesses, and communities.

2014 SME International Honor Award Recipients

Six Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) International Honor Awardees were recognized for their significant contributions to manufacturing in the areas of manufacturing technologies, processes, technical writing, education, research and management. Among those was our own, Dr. Marilyn Barger.

Marilyn Barger, PhD, PE, is the Principal Investigator and Executive Director of FLATE - Florida Advanced Technical Education Center. FLATE website Dr. Barger is recognized with the SME Education Award for the development of manufacturing-related curricula for the entire state of Florida, being a leader in manufacturing education both nationally and internationally, and for inspiring students to enter the profession of manufacturing. She is the principal investigator and executive director of FLATE (Florida Regional Center of Excellence for Advanced Technological Education), funded by the National Science Foundation, since 2004. FLATE works closely with manufacturers across Florida serving manufacturing technical education programs statewide.

Dr. Barger earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Agnes Scott College, and both a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and a doctorate in civil engineering (environmental) from the University of South Florida where her research focused on membrane separations for water purification. She has more than 20 years of experience in developing curricula for engineering and engineering technology for elementary, middle, high school and postsecondary institutions, including engineering colleges. She serves on a number of national panels and advisory boards for technical programs, curriculum and workforce initiatives, including the National Association of Manufacturers Educators Council. She is a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education, and a member of Tau Beta Pi and Epsilon Pi Tau honor societies. She is also a charter member of both the National Academy and the University of South Florida‘s Academy of Inventors. She holds a licensed patent and is a licensed professional engineer in Florida.
SME Website

Add this date to your calendar and plan for activities the first week in October. If you would like to host a tour for students or get involved, please email the BAMA office at admin@bama-fl.org.

A new ranking of the competitiveness of the world's top 25 exporting countries says the United States is once again a "rising star" of global manufacturing thanks to falling domestic natural gas prices, rising worker productivity and a lack of upward wage pressure.

The report, released on Friday by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG,) found that while China remains the world's No. 1 country in terms of manufacturing competitiveness, its position is "under pressure" as a result of rising labor and transportation costs and lagging productivity growth.

The United States, meanwhile, which has lost nearly 7.5 million industrial jobs since employment in the sector peaked in 1979 as manufacturers shipped production to low-cost countries, is now No. 2 in terms of overall competitiveness, BCG said.

Read the article.

Free FL MEP Webinar on May 28

"Understanding Material, Labor, and Overhead for Profitability"

If you own a manufacturing company or work on its management team, you know that pricing products correctly is critical. Small variances in prices can mean the difference between making money and losing money.

This is why the Florida MEP, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Florida's manufacturers, is holding a free webinar on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 3pm: "Understanding Material, Labor, and Overhead for Profitability". This live 60-minute webinar is funded by the State of Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity, as part of a larger effort to boost Florida's manufacturing industry.

This free live webinar will help you:
  * Pinpoint Your Materials Costs
  * Calculate Labor with Great Precision
  * Uncover Overhead Costs
  * Price ALL of your Products for Profitability

Plus, all attendees will be provided with 2 electronic tools that can be used to help customize pricing in YOUR manufacturing business.

To register, please visit: http://SecorStrategies.com/webinar1

About FLMEP
The Florida MEP (FLMEP) is a not-for-profit organization that provides assistance to manufacturers to help them identify and implement advanced manufacturing and management technologies to enable them to grow and compete in the global market.

FLMEP assists manufacturers by providing access to technology for improved productivity, offering workforce training in Lean manufacturing, ISO / ITAR compliance, exporting logistics and supply chain integration. Through FLMEP programs, many funded by grants, companies learn tactics to innovate, save money, implement more efficient management strategies and lean methodologies, resulting in immediate bottom-line impact.

If you have questions or would like more information about FLMEP programs and services, please call Phyllis Morese at 772-349-2459, visit us at www.floridamep.org and be sure to follow us on Twitter @FloridaMEP.

In an effort to create a more competitive environment for manufacturers in his state, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed legislation to eliminate sales tax on purchases of industrial machinery and equipment.

Effective April 30, 2014, House Bill 7007 provides a sales and use tax exemption for industrial machinery and equipment purchased by manufacturing businesses to be used at a fixed location within the state. To be eligible for this exemption, business and equipment must meet the following criteria:
   - The business’s primary activity must be defined by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 31, 32 or 33 at the specific location where the industrial machinery and equipment are installed.
   - Industrial machinery and equipment must be used as an integral part of manufacturing, processing or production.
   - Tangible personal property must have a depreciable life of three years or more.

Parts and accessories purchased prior to the in-service date of the machinery and equipment also are eligible for the exemption. Buildings, structural components and heating and air conditioning equipment are excluded from the definition of machinery and equipment.

Manufacturers can take advantage of this exemption until April 30, 2017, when the legislation expires.

Economic development is a priority as Florida seeks to increase business growth within its state. The manufacturer’s sales tax exemption is one of many economic development initiatives outlined in House Bill 7007 and Senate Bill 406. SB 406 includes amendments to corporate tax credits, expansion of sales and use tax exemptions and the creation of a three-day sales tax holiday. Updated corporate income tax credits include the following:
   - Removal of the lifetime limit received by an individual for the Qualified Target Industry and Qualified Defense and Space Contractor tax refunds.
   - Expansion of eligible locations in enterprise zones in which caps per entity were imposed.
   - A $15 million increase ($3 million annually) in the total amount of tax credits that can be awarded under the New Markets Development Program.

Watch the feature by Grayson Kamm on Channel 10 news on the Manufacturing Equipment Sales Tax Holiday!

State College of Florida
Training for APICS CPIM Designation

Increase your functional knowledge of production and inventory management
• Maximize ROI on the systems and technologies within your organization
• Master the tools you need to effectively manage global supply chain activities
• Gain knowledge to apply principles of ERP software to cover various critical functions within your organization
• Earn customer satisfaction by delivering Lean/Just-in-Time products and services
• Enhance your credibility within your organization
• Create consistency and foster collaboration through best practices, common terminology, and corporate-wide communication.

The cost is $1,700 per person, which includes tuition and materials for the three days. Training grant dollars are available, which cover 50% of the cost of training and materials.

State College of Florida, Lakewood Ranch
May 2, 9 and 16
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact Lee Kotwicki at kotwickl@scf.edu or 941-363-7218

Do you have children or grandchildren in Middle or High School who are interested in Science and Technology? If yes, consider registering them in a FLATE Robotics and Engineering Summer Camp.

FLATE’s Robotics Camps Offer a STEM-ultimate Experience for future engineers! Middle and high school students attending FLATE’s robotics camp get a full serving of robotics and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to whet their appetite.

Camp Dates:
June 16–20: Intro EV3 Camp (Girls Only) *Scholarship info
June 23–27: Intro EV3 Camp
July 7–11: Intro EV3 Camp
July 14–18: Intermediate EV3 (Session A)
July 21–25: Intermediate EV3 (Session B)
July 28–Aug 1: High School Robotics & Engineering Camp

Camp Location:
Hillsborough Community College (Brandon Campus) 10414 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa FL 33619.

Want more information? You can find it here. Or you can contact Desh Bagley, outreach manager at camps@fl-ate.org, and Dr. Marilyn Barger, executive director at barger@fl-ate.org.