 Glenn Langan of Gulf Power tests a home’s energy efficiency as part of the utility’s EarthCents Home program. |
Hoping to bolster a future in four targeted industry clusters, Florida’s Great Northwest economic development agency recently distributed nearly $1 million in federal grants to fund information technology and research and engineering training. Matching funds from the recipients added $3.2 million.
The training is seen as fundamental to the region’s next-generation growth leaders. Those clusters — aviation and defense; health sciences; renewable energy/environment; and transportation and logistics — “are important targeted industries to invest in for Florida’s future,’’ says Rebecca Rust, economist for Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation.
Training slots created by the grants are going fast. The University of West Florida expected 25 to enroll in its new executive-format, online master’s degree program in computer science and software engineering; 100 applied.
The University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility at Shalimar is using concept-mapping developed by the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition in courses to update engineering skills of military personnel.
More than any other industry group, the budding bioenergy field is attracting projects, says Al Wenstrand, president of Florida’s Great Northwest. Grant recipient Gulf Power Co. is launching a $1.2-million renewable energy skills program, training marketing employees to help customers choose solar, geothermal and other renewable energy options. The company is exploring converting coal-burning Plant Sholtz at Sneads to biomass, says public affairs manager Sandy Sims.
Grant Recipients |
Gulf Power Co.: $347,385; renewable energy skills training for 166 employees and 21 interns.