CareerSource Brevard Begins Sector Strategy for Manufacturing in Brevard
Brevard, FL–CareerSource Brevard (CSB), the area authority on workforce development, was awarded a Sector Strategy NEG grant to create a Manufacturing Sector Strategy in Brevard. CSB was selected by CareerSource Florida (CSF) to receive this two (2) year, $765,000 grant to help the community build a “sector strategy” and provide needed training to support local manufacturer talent needs.
The Brevard grant is part of a two-year, $7 million federal grant awarded to CareerSource Florida and the Department of Economic Opportunity to assess current and future needs of employers in health care and advanced manufacturing. Florida will focus on building an increasingly competitive workforce and enabling employers in health care and advanced manufacturing to stay current with marketplace changes.
“The Sector Partnership Grant will help provide training and resources to move Floridians seeking employment into well-paying careers with a promising future in the growing industries of health care and advanced manufacturing,” said Chris Hart IV, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida. “These funds also will strengthen our collective and ongoing efforts to harness the market intelligence critical to meeting business needs and establishing Florida as a global leader for talent.”
The Brevard Manufacturing strategy initiative has been named “Advancing in Manufacturing” (AIM)—indicative of the positive and forward direction CSB and the local community are taking. AIM is business-driven and will include advocacy, training, and recruitment efforts. This initiative is expected to grow the talent pipeline, upgrade the skills of current employees, improve curriculum to meet business needs, and facilitate business connections that will grow the industry. Industry stakeholders will collectively identify skills gaps and training needs that are relevant and practical to current and future manufacturing skills needed by regional employers.
“CareerSource Brevard is committed to buildinga customized Manufacturing Sector Strategy by partnering with Brevard’s manufacturers and industry partners to address pressing workforce challenges,” commented Tina Berger, CSB Sector Strategy Program Manager.
During the initial AIM meeting on October 15, more than 60 local manufacturers and industry partners convened to identify the needs in Brevard, build a strategy to address these needs and define the next steps, including the formation of four subcommittees to address key areas identified. CSB will meet with the AIM teams monthly and the manufacturing community each quarter to continue to develop talent pipeline strategies, create streamlined certification programs designed to facilitate the placement of qualified employees in critical job vacancies, enhance sustainability and growth of manufacturing companies in Brevard County.
On November 4-5, CSB representatives attended the 12th Annual MAF Summit & Marketplace in West Palm Beach, FL. MAF is an advocacy association organized to improve the business climate for manufacturers in Florida. The Summit brought manufacturers, economic developers, educators, professional service providers and more across the state together to learn, share and network to improve the business climate for Florida manufacturers.
“Today’s manufacturing isn’t like it was in our grandfather’s day,” said CSB President, Lisa Rice. “Today’s manufacturing is full of emerging technologies that are likely to produce major changes in the way many things are made. It’s a computer-driven, data-driven, digital and sustainable industry in America and in Brevard and we need to make sure that we are ensuring its future. This grant will allow us to start doing that work.”
For more information on how you can get involved and have your company’s voice heard contact Tina Berger, Sector Strategy Program Manager 321-394-0515 or [email protected].
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About CareerSource Brevard: CareerSource Brevard, formerly Brevard Workforce, is a non-profit, regional public/private partnership under CareerSource Florida. Workforce Boards create local workforce development systems through one-stop career centers which combine multiple federal, state, and local program funds, providing comprehensive services, labor market information and access to resources for businesses and career seekers. Visit www.careersourcebrevard.com or call (321) 504-7600 for more information about our services and resources.
About Sector Strategies: Sector strategies are industry-led approaches to workforce and economic development that align training to meet employer needs in regional labor markets. The project supported through the Sector Partnership Grant builds on the sector strategy approach established by CareerSource Florida last year to ensure Florida’s workforce development system is responsive to the talent needs of businesses.
About CareerSource FloridaCareerSource Florida is the statewide workforce policy and investment board of business and government leaders charged with overseeing the CareerSource Florida network, which includes the Department of Economic Opportunity, 24 regional workforce boards and nearly 100 career centers. 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 or 1-866-352-2345.