Workforce Innovation II Awards

Program Summary:
The Workforce Innovation project was developed to address specific industry needs by funding innovative workforce development, training, and other industry-specific education and training partnership projects that encourage or lead to high-skill, high-wage employment or employee advancement in four targeted high-growth, high-tech industry clusters: aerospace and defense; health sciences and human performance enhancement; energy and the environment; and transportation and logistics; or in either supporting industry: information technology and research/engineering services. These new programs will have a tremendous impact on the development of the region’s knowledge-based workforce and support the growth of target industries, creating a diverse and sustainable economy. Florida’s Great Northwest, through its WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative, awarded the five grant recipients nearly $1,000,000, which will be matched with an additional $3,012,243. Through these training initiatives, an additional 1250 skilled workers will be added to Northwest Florida’s workforce annually.

• Andrews-Paulos Research and Education Institute
• Gulf Coast Community College
• Gulf Power Company
• Northwest Florida State College
• University of Florida – Research & Engineering Education Facility
• University of West Florida