TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced nearly $11 million in funding for the 2021 Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant and Apprenticeship State Expansion Grant recipients. Awarding this funding is a part of Governor DeSantis’ efforts to make Florida the best state in the nation for workforce education by 2030. Including these awards, more than $30 million has been invested since 2019 to expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. This grant funding will create opportunities for individuals to earn the high-value skills and nationally recognized credentials necessary for high-earning careers, and support our growing industries and globally competitive economy.

“By investing in career training and apprenticeship programs, Florida is expanding opportunities in a way that will strengthen key sectors of the economy,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Through this program, we are offering alternatives to the traditional (and expensive) brick and ivy education experience and helping Floridians obtain good jobs without going into debt. I am proud that we have been able to award these grants for three years, as we continue to invest in creating opportunities for Floridians.”

“Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, we’ve doubled-down on our workforce education initiatives and these grant programs best demonstrate this. Apprenticeships are time-tested training models equipping trainees with the confidence and skills to thrive in high-demand careers,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “Apprenticeship programs prepare students for more than an entry-level job. Upon completion, students are prepared for lifelong learning and family sustaining careers.”

In partnership with CareerSource Florida, the Department of Education continues to make noteworthy gains, expanding the number of RAPs by 15%. This expansion represents a total of 300 programs with 1,875 apprentices reaching completion and earning an in-demand apprenticeship certificate with an average salary of $52,500.

“CareerSource Florida is honored to continue strengthening our workforce with our partners at the Florida Department of Education through the expansion of registered apprenticeship opportunities across the state, helping businesses needing talent and Floridians seeking pathways to great careers,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard. “This significant investment will have an immediate impact on the lives of the Floridians who will benefit from these grants.”

Governor DeSantis has worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic funding for Florida’s students and families, totaling $30 million dedicated to registered apprenticeships through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant. This year’s awardees, totaling $9.8 million in funding, are:

TruMont, LLC

Flagler County School District

Florida Training Services

Jacksonville Electrical Joint A&T Committee

Tallahassee Community College

Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association

Santa Rosa County School District

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter ABC Inc., GNJ

Lockheed Martin Corporation

AmSkills

Clay County School District

Pasco-Hernando State College

Sumter County School District

GE Aviation Systems

Net Synergy Virtual Solutions LLC

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

Community Health IT

iBuild of Central Florida

Daytona State College

Space TEC

St. Lucie County School District

Seminole County School District

Osceola County School District

Indian River State College

Volusia County School District

Collier County School District

Miami-Dade County School District

Palm Beach County School District

Miami-Dade College

Hamilton-Ryker

ABC Institute, Inc.

Florida International University

Junior Achievement of South Florida

Northwest Florida State College

The federally funded Apprenticeship State Expansion Grant consists of two mini-grants designed to support apprenticeship growth and expansion. These mini-grant programs help contribute to Governor DeSantis’ bold vision for Florida to become the number one state in the nation in workforce education by 2030.

With a focus on capacity building and outreach to underrepresented populations, the first mini-grant awards include a total of $236,000 to the following RAPs:

AmSkills

Automation and Maintenance Professional Apprenticeship Program, GNJ

City of Tallahassee Utilities Apprenticeship Program, INJ

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter ABC, Inc., GNJ

FNGLA Nursery & Landscape Apprenticeship Program

Lake Sumter State College

Learning Alliance

Lorenzo Walker Technical College

Marine Industries of South Florida

Northwest Florida State College

St. Petersburg College

TruMont, LLC

The second mini-grant is designed to remove barriers apprentices may face to help them persist and complete their training. A total of $358,217 has been awarded to the following RAPs:

Central Florida Childcare Educators

iBuild Carpentry

Independent Electrical Contractors

Learning Alliance

Lorenzo Walker Technical College

MACCA Manasota A/C Contractors Association

Plumbing Contractors Association

Plumbing Industry Professional Education

St. Petersburg College

Technical Education Council, LLC

The College of the Florida Keys

TruMont, LLC

For more information about the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program visit www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant. To learn more about the Apprenticeship State Expansion Grant Program visit https://grants.apprenticeflorida.com/.

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ABOUT CAREERSOURCE FLORIDA
CareerSource Florida, with its business-led board of directors, provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. The CareerSource Florida State Board serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with DEO, which is responsible for the state workforce system’s fiscal and administrative affairs, and local workforce development boards that serve Florida’s businesses and career seekers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.