A statewide agency and business leaders outlined Wednesday how they would use more than $2 million to help train people for jobs that will help Florida compete for international trade.
The presentation came a day after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers outlined a construction project at Mile Point in the St. Johns River, a move expected to create port jobs.
Representatives of Workforce Florida, which is responsible for overseeing the state’s workforce system, and business leaders detailed the “three-pronged approach” that will help Florida better compete for international trade.
“We are pleased to announce an important, statewide workforce training initiative today,” said Mary Lou Brunnell, vice chairwoman for Workforce Florida.
“One that illustrates our commitment to fostering partnerships that strengthen our talent supply and forge a globally competitive economy,” she said.
The announcement was made at the Jacksonville Port Authority cruise ship terminal.
Workforce will partner with the Jacksonville-based Reynolds, Smith and Hills engineering firm, the American Society of Transportation and Logistics of Jacksonville, the University of North Florida and Broward College to develop the program.
The program’s initiatives include:
• Nearly $1 million in Quick Response Training grants to train about 1,000 new and existing workers at port businesses as well as manufacturing, logistics and related companies aimed at retaining jobs and expanding international trade and exports in Florida. RS&H is partnering with UNF’s Division of Continuing Education to coordinate the training.
• About $600,000 in Quick Response Training grants to train up to 600 people who work for air cargo-related businesses. The air cargo QRT Statewide Consortium project will be coordinated through Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, with RS&H.
“We are proud to be part of such an important partnership for Florida’s economy,” said Leerie Jenkins, CEO of RS&H.
“For businesses like ours, a talented workforce is the cornerstone of success and growth. These training initiatives will help strengthen and expand Florida’s pipeline of trade, logistics and manufacturing,” he said.
• About $600,000 will help create new career academies to develop pipeline talent for international trade jobs and forge stronger partnerships between local workforce boards and Florida’s deep-water ports.
The initiative will be led by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics and will create up to 15 career academies in high schools throughout the state focused on international trade and logistics, and advanced manufacturing for international trade opportunities.
District 17 Rep. Lake Ray has been working in the state Legislature to improve the climate for international trade in Florida. He holds a seat on both the Roads, Bridges and Ports Policy Committee and Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee.
Soon after being elected in 2008, he realized that Florida’s economy needed a new direction.
“At that time, as it is today, the No. 1 focus in the Legislature is jobs and the economy. If you looked at where we were at that time it was easy for us to see that the state’s economy was broken,” said Ray.
“When the Florida Ports Council came to see me, I heard something that changed my view. They told me that, in the port industry, there were 550,000 to 570,000 jobs in the state that were directly connected with the import and export industry here, $66 billion worth of salaries,” said Ray.
“I also knew that the Panama Canal was going to be reopening and opportunities for our state would never be greater. As we look to our future, it will be about how we move the goods to our state. It will be about logistics. It will be about opportunities for improving our rail and road systems,” he said.
356-2466