FLATE & FloridaMakes Collaborate to Advance Education & Workforce Dev. to Support Growth in MFG

TAMPA, Fla. - Jan. 20, 2016 - PRLog -- ORLANDO, FL & Tampa, FL– Two nationally recognized Florida organizations – one that works directly with manufacturers and one that develops manufacturing and advanced technical education frameworks and curricula -- are developing a concerted partnership to help support the current and next generation of skilled workers for the state’s growing high tech manufacturing sector.

In a signed Memorandum of Understanding, FloridaMakes, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, outlined actions aimed at furthering the market knowledge of current and future skills needed by Florida manufacturers, and using that knowledge to enhance educational curricula, as well as further the understanding by educators, students and parents of the career opportunities provided by the manufacturing sector.

“FloridaMakes is a very important partner for FLATE,” said Professor Richard Gilbert, College of Engineering at the University of South Florida and member of FLATE’s Leadership Team.  “Their network of business advisors are working directly with manufacturers and the regional manufacturing associations throughout Florida.  This unique insight into the current and future skills needed by Florida manufacturers will help FLATE bring the Florida College System’s manufacturing curriculum more closely aligned with manufacturers’ needs.”

As part of the memorandum of understanding, FloridaMakes and FLATE will also work together to design and deliver informational webinars for manufacturers and the educational community statewide, support student opportunities to connect with and learn about manufacturing through plant tours and other events during MFG Day and Month, provide access to FLATE’s Advanced Manufacturing Production e-book, an interactive tool with videos and hyperlinks designed for students, and collaborate on bringing additional resources to Florida’s State and Community College network statewide.

Florida ranks 5^th in the nation for high-tech employment and is home to close to 19,000 manufacturers developing products ranging from aerospace products to semiconductors, boats and more.

“In order for our manufacturing sector to prosper, it is critical to cultivate and engage a technically skilled workforce for Florida’s present and future,” said Kevin Carr, FloridaMakes CEO.  “As a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence, FLATE is a nationally recognized leader in technical education.  This collaboration between FLATE and FloridaMakes will support individual manufacturers, lead to high paying careers for students, and contribute to the state’s overall manufacturing and economic ecosystem.”

FLATE and FloridaMakes expect to launch their first collaborative webinars later this year.  For information about FloridaMakes visit www.floridamakes.com or call (407) 450-7206.   For information on FLATE visit www.fl-ate.org or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, Principal Investigator and Executive Director of FLATE at barger@fl-ate.org, (813) 259-6578 or Dr. Richard Gilbert, Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Florida at gilbert@usf.edu, (813) 974-2139.

About Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE)

FLATE is a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, committed to ensuring Florida has a well-prepared workforce for advanced and emerging technologies. Created in 2004, FLATE is one of 39 Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States funded by the National Science Foundation focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and training to meet the needs of American advanced technology industries. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org.

About FloridaMakes
FloridaMakes is a statewide service created by manufacturers, for manufacturers, and builds on the solid foundation of Florida’s network of regional manufacturing associations.   FloridaMakes supports the growth, competitive ability and profitability of Florida’s nearly 19,000 manufacturers.  Services are customized to meet the needs and opportunities of individual companies based on an enterprise assessment, and include process improvement, business growth and innovation, supply chain optimization, product development, adoption of best practices and appropriate advanced technologies, sustainability, market expansion and other services. Part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, FloridaMakes provides access to national and local public and private resources. FloridaMakes operates with support from the State of Florida, NIST and Florida’s manufacturers. Visit http://www.floridamakes.com for more information.