23 August 2011
Workforce Florida has pledged more than $2 million for job training and expansion grants for hundreds of Florida port and international trade workers.
Nearly $1 million is to be used to help about 1,000 new and existing workers at port businesses and related companies.
Training for this program is to be coordinated through a partnership between Reynolds, Smith & Hills, Jacksonville-based facilities and infrastructure consulting engineering firm, and the University of North Florida’s Division of Continuing Education.
Up to 600 workers at air-cargo businesses are to have access to $600,000 in grants for training aimed at increasing productivity. This training is to be coordinated though Broward College and Reynolds, Smith & Hills.
“We are proud to part of such an important partnership for Florida’s economy,” said Leerie Jenkins, CEO of Reynolds, Smith & Hills, in a press release. “For businesses like ours, a talented workforce is the cornerstone of success and growth. These training initiatives will help strengthen and expand Florida’s pipeline of trade, logistics and manufacturing.”
Another $600,000 is to create career academies to develop talent for international trade jobs and to forge relationships between local workforce boards and Florida’s deep-water seaports. The project is to create up to 15 career academies in high schools throughout the state, with a focus on international trade logistics and advanced manufacturing for international trade opportunities.