BRADENTON, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott visited Manatee Technical College to announce that the college will be awarded the first grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. Last month, the School Board of Manatee County voted to accept $201,500 in funding through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). This funding will support the purchase of high-tech equipment needed to expand the workforce training program in Advanced Manufacturing and Production Technology, which will help prepare more students for future career opportunities.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Manatee Technical College has been selected as the first recipient of the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. This program was designed to support economic development projects that enhance workforce training programs, such as Manatee Technical College’s manufacturing program, so Florida can continue to compete in this global economy. Ensuring a well-trained workforce is vital to bringing new job opportunities to families in our state, and I look forward to announcing additional Florida Job Growth Grant Fund recipients in the near future.”

This proposal was chosen based on its strong return on investment to the state and the regionally driven demand for a robust manufacturing workforce. The impact of this program will help prepare Florida students for years to come and encourage businesses to invest in Manatee County as a result of the skilled workforce. Return on investment is calculated based on the number of Floridians completing the training program and the projected increase in wages they earn once they find employment in comparison to total project cost.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO, said, “Our agency has worked diligently to evaluate more than 200 Florida Job Growth Grant Fund proposals to ensure that these funds are spent wisely. Manufacturing skills are needed throughout our state, but specifically in Manatee County where there are hundreds of manufacturers. Manatee Technical College has a successful existing program that will be enhanced by these funds. We look forward to the opportunities this funding will bring to the families of Manatee County.”

Doug Wagner, Executive Director of Adult, Career and Technical Education at the School District of Manatee County said, “This grant will greatly enhance our ability to train students and prepare them for the workforce with valuable manufacturing skills, from entry-level production to quality assurance. Upon completion of the full Advanced Manufacturing and Production Technology curriculum, our students at Manatee Technical College will be able to earn a high-skill, high-wage job. We are proud that our program has been selected by Governor Scott and will make the area more competitive with this better trained workforce to match the manufacturers in the county.”

For more information about the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/JobGrowth.