Growing the manufacturing workforce is the goal of a recently announced partnership between the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council and The University of West Florida.
The partnership creates sets of middle and high school advanced manufacturing career academies throughout Northwest Florida. The Florida legislature provided funding to UWF for this purpose.
The academies, which provide career pathways for students into the manufacturing industry, are built on the National Association of Manufacturers certification system. Successful students in the high school academies will graduate with the national Manufacturing Skills Standards Council Certified Production Technician industry certification and up to 12 hours of college credit.
This certification provides the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level manufacturing careers and a solid foundation for additional stackable certifications and degrees relevant to the manufacturing industry.
“I am grateful to the University of West Florida and to the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council for linking education to the realities of the local economy in a meaningful way," Sen. Don Gaetz said. "These public private partnerships are truly redefining career and professional education for the 21st century global economy."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NW Florida Manufacturers Council, UWF plan to grow manufacturing talent