DSC collaborates in major grant to train high-tech workers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2018) - Daytona State College (DSC) is partnering with its neighboring Brevard County institution, Eastern Florida State College (EFSC), on a nearly $3.8 million state grant to train Floridians for jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

Called the Florida Actively Collaborating with Training for Individuals in Vocational & Advanced Technology Educational Skills (Florida ACTIVATES) Consortium, the partnership is part of Florida's Job Growth Grant Fund initiative spearheaded by the governor's office, the Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida.

Daytona State will receive $1.2 million as its portion of the grant award to develop, expand and equip programs in advanced welding, mechatronics and industrial technology maintenance, as well as to provide students with academic support and internship opportunities, while EFSC will focus on programs tied to aerospace and aviation.

DSC President Tom LoBasso said the partnership will help build a critical pipeline for the region's fast-growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. "Our activities will have regional significance and will help prepare workers both within and beyond our three-county service area to fill jobs that are currently in high demand," he noted. "A skilled workforce is key to our region's sustained growth and success. As the primary workforce training and education provider for Flagler and Volusia counties, Daytona State is excited to be a partner on this project."

The funding comes as aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries are rapidly expanding in the three-county region, ranging from small companies to major firms such as SpaceX, Teledyne Oil & Gas, Thompson Pumps, Dougherty Manufacturing and other members of the Volusia Manufacturers Association.

DSC students can earn college technical certificates ranging from welding to machining to network systems, and associate and bachelor's degrees in dozens of technology and workforce programs, including engineering technology, information technology and computer science.

The Florida ACTIVATES consortium seeks to make an efficient pipeline that will create more than 450 new jobs and 125 skilled apprentices over a two-year period for the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries.

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, established by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature last year, provides $85 million for improving public infrastructure and enhancing workforce training in Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has received more than 246 proposals requesting over $866 million in funding. To date, the governor has approved nearly $70 million in funding awarded to 27 communities across the state to promote infrastructure and job training.

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