Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $14 Million in Workforce Training Awards for Disaster Recovery Efforts

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $14 Million in Workforce Training Awards for Disaster Recovery Efforts

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $14 million has been awarded to seven organizations through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program. Award recipients include local workforce development boards, schools, colleges and universities in communities impacted by Hurricane Irma. The program, administered by DEO, is designed to train Floridians in construction trades necessary to support disaster recovery efforts.

 “Homes, businesses and communities across the state are still recovering from Hurricane Irma,” said Governor DeSantis. “The Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program provides opportunities for Floridians to gain the skills they need to help rebuild their communities. The award recipients will help individuals across the state not only learn skills they need to repair homes and infrastructure but create a new life for themselves and their families.”

 The Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program makes funds available to local workforce development boards, secondary and post-secondary educational organizations and technical centers serving communities impacted by Hurricane Irma. The funding will be used to launch or expand training programs for construction trades including roofing, masonry, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing, HVAC, electricity, heavy equipment operations, carpet laying, window installation, plastering, welding and more.

 “Our agency is excited to partner with education and workforce-focused organizations to help provide Floridians the skills they need to help rebuild their communities after Hurricane Irma,” said DEO Executive Director Ken Lawson. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we are focused on enhancing the state’s efforts to train Floridians in construction fields.  By providing individuals enhanced training in the construction fields, we will have a larger workforce available to help rebuild our state faster and more resilient to future storms, as well as provide these Floridians opportunities for success.”

 DEO is awarding grants to the following organizations serving areas impacted by Hurricane Irma through the Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program: 

• CareerSource Brevard ($2,049,784) – To expand existing CareerSource programs to provide training in construction trades, including roofing, masonry, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing, HVAC, electricity, heavy equipment operations, carpet laying, glass/window installation, plastering and welding.

• The College of the Florida Keys ($2,553,653) – To expand the college’s apprenticeships program providing training in plumbing, electricity, carpentry and HVAC to additional locations serving the Middle and Upper Keys.

• Florida International University ($2,648,829) – To expand the university’s pre-apprenticeship Construction Trades Program that provides construction skills training to new locations across Miami-Dade County.

• Florida State College at Jacksonville ($1,525,379) – To create a new program providing general construction trades preparation.

• Hendry County School District ($1,464,335) – To expand the district’s workforce development program providing training in industrial mechanics, HVAC and welding.

• Indian River State College ($2,236,673) – To expand existing programs for HVAC, construction and solar panel technician training.

• Valencia College ($1,972,003) – To expand the college’s Accelerated Skills Training Program in welding, core construction, masonry, carpentry, heavy equipment operations and electrical-power lineman training.

Rebuild Florida is a partnership of DEO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Launched in September 2018, Rebuild Florida uses federal funding for Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. For more information, visit www.RebuildFlorida.gov.

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