Workforce Training

The EDC in cooperation with our regional workforce board, WORKFORCE plus, and the Center for Economic & Workforce Development at Tallahassee Community College, proactively engages local businesses to customize workforce training solutions, whether for the individual business or an entire industry.

WORKFORCE plus serves as the area’s employment solution by linking businesses in need of qualified employees with the people in our community who need and want competitive, career-advancing employment. WORKFORCE plus assists more than 1,000 employers in various industries such as Healthcare, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Aerospace, and Construction by connecting them with over 12,000 job seekers each year.

Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center

Tallahassee Community College has taken an important economic development leadership role with the design of a multi-million dollar Manufacturing Technology Training Center. This 16,000 square foot renovated on-campus facility will be geared toward high tech and precision manufacturing training for existing and future employees using state-of-the art equipment. The Center will also include three biotech training labs, incubator space for rapid response to expanding production needs of area employers, and classroom space to conduct customized training programs.

Area employers serve on an Advisory Committee to TCC for the center’s facility and curriculum plans. This group of top executives will continue to meet and relay the current and future needs of the industry in areas related to the latest certifications, job skills and equipment. One of the core goals is to make the Center a hub for all employee training, assessment and workforce development activities. Learn more at www.capitalregionmanufacturers.com.

Growing Our Own Healthcare Workforce

The EDC Life Science Roundtable has created a healthcare careers portal in response to a recent survey that identified both clinical and non-clinical job vacancies, high-turnover occupations and shortage of trained workers. The mission of the careers initiative is to cultivate a workforce to fill current and future identified healthcare industry jobs, through awareness, collaboration, training and placement. Industry partners will work with high school career academies, guidance counselors, and host career fairs and healthcare industry fairs. For more information go to www.bigbendhealthcarecareers.com.

A Pipeline of Trained Employees

Following the model of Okaloosa-Walton’s CHOICE Career Academies, the Capital region has established four programs at area high schools that allow students to graduate with industry recognized national certifications. These programs prepare the student to articulate into a degree program or go directly into the workforce upon graduation. Each school has been awarded grants through a federal Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program administered by Florida’s Great Northwest.

High School Career Academies

Leon County

Godby High School - Information Technology Academy
Rickards High School - Health Sciences Academy

Wakulla County

Wakulla High School - Biomedical Technology Academy

Gadsden County

West Gadsden High School - Information Technology Academy