Bonifay, Fla. – CareerSource Florida today announced the award of a Quick Response Training grant for $161,700 to assist advanced manufacturer Probes Unlimited with its customized training needs for 55 new employees in Bonifay. Probes Unlimited designs and manufactures Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) sensing devices for industries such as commercial food equipment, pellet technology, scientific instrumentation, aerospace instrumentation, factory automation and green technologies. The rapidly expanding company, based in Pennsylvania, recently expanded its manufacturing operations to rural Holmes County to take advantage of Florida’s great business climate and available skilled workforce.
“Advanced Manufacturing is not limited to emerging technologies; rather, it is composed of efficient, productive, highly integrated, tightly controlled processes across a spectrum of globally competitive U.S. manufacturers and suppliers,” said Probes Unlimited President, CEO and Owner Ernie DeLany. “For Probes Unlimited to thrive requires a commitment from state and local governments, communities, educators, and our team members. This grant will help us upskill our team members with tools to start the process of developing an Advanced Manufacturing cluster in Northwest Florida. The goal is not for one single operation, but for an ecosystem of like-minded businesses that thrive together and benefit the community that has invested in us.”
CareerSource Florida administers the state-funded Quick Response Training grant program, which this year allocated $7.5 million to help offset costs of training of high-skill, high-wage new hires at qualified new or expanding businesses in targeted industries.
“Florida’s manufacturing industry is vital to our state’s economic growth, and CareerSource Florida is honored to help Probes Unlimited bring these new, well-paying jobs to the Bonifay area,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard. “We’re grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for continuing to fund Quick Response Training grants to help bring more great jobs in growing industries to our state.”
Acting as fiscal agent for the grant, Chipola College is supporting Probes Unlimited’s expansion efforts.
“The college supports career training to help people improve their lives,” said Chipola College President Sarah Clemmons, Ph.D. “We are glad to work with CareerSource Chipola for the opportunity of a business training more people in Holmes County.”
CareerSource Chipola, one of 24 local workforce development boards statewide, is assisting Probes Unlimited with recruiting and hiring qualified candidates.
“We appreciate CareerSource Florida’s support of this important economic development project in rural Northwest Florida,” said Richard Williams, Executive Director of CareerSource Chipola. “Probes Unlimited is a great addition to a growing list of major employers in the area.”
Last year, CareerSource Florida allocated $8.4 million in Quick Response Training grants to 16 businesses to train more than 3,000 employees. CareerSource Florida also administers the Incumbent Worker Training program, which helps existing businesses, especially small businesses, upskill employees to stay competitive and grow. For additional information about training grants available to new, expanding or existing Florida businesses, please visit https://careersourceflorida.com/business-services/training-grants/.
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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.