News

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – CareerSource Research Coast (CSRC) today announced it has secured more than $570 thousand in grant funding from the state workforce board, CareerSource Florida, to further support local apprenticeship and apprenticeship expansion programs in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

CSRC, in collaboration with CareerSource Heartland (CSH), will utilize funding, which it has received through the Sector Strategy Grant totaling $370,338, toward the development and expansion of CVS Health’s Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship program in both Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs). The goal of the grant is to recruit, enroll and fund a total of 22 apprentices. The 12- to 18-month competency-based learning model will provide the technical training necessary to ensure that CVS Health participants have the skillset needed to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician.

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 12 percent through 2026. The Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship program will address this growth by increasing the pharmacy technician talent pipeline and promoting career pathways within this emerging sector.

CSRC has also partnered with Machining Training Solutions, LLC, to offer CNC Production Specialist (CCI) Certification as an additional stackable credential to the current 18-month Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) registered apprenticeship program, where participants have gained core competencies training in manufacturing production since the program’s launch in January 2018. CSRC has received $100 thousand in grant funding to use toward this expansion.

According to the “2018 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute Skills Gap and Future of Work Study,” U.S. manufacturers will create more than 4.6 million job openings between 2018 and 2028; however, over 2.4 million openings will lie vacant due to a skills shortage. This certification gives participants both the employability and technical skills needed to obtain and retain employment in this high-demand field.

CSRC has also received grant funding, in the amount of $99,962, for an expansion of Indian River County’s Manufacturing Boot Camp. CSRC has worked in partnership with Indian River County Economic Development, Indian River School District, Treasure Coast Technical College and area manufacturers to develop the 1-week boot camp, which will provide 15 recent high school graduates with an opportunity to tour local manufacturing sites, experience hands-on activities, and learn soft skills and job readiness skills. CSRC will use grant funds to transition the students from the boot camp into the IMT registered apprenticeship program and cover the costs for the students to obtain Manufacturers Skills Standards Council (MSSC) training and Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification at Treasure Coast Technical College.

“With the alignment of the CSRC Board of Directors sector strategies, these grants will allow CSRC an opportunity to collaborate with local employers, educational partners and other local community stakeholders to build a highly skilled workforce that drives economic versatility,” said CareerSource Research Coast CEO Brian Bauer.

About CareerSource Research Coast
CareerSource Research Coast (CSRC) is a private, non-profit, Florida corporation with a board of directors consisting of private businesses, economic development and education representatives, community and state agencies, and elected officials. Members of the board represent the diversity of businesses, organizations and trades that operate in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties. The State of Florida chartered CSRC to create and manage a workforce development service delivery system responsive to the needs of businesses and job seekers. Our certified workforce professionals can be reached by calling 1-866-4U2-HIRE or 1-866-482-4473. Visit www.careersourcerc.com to learn more. An equal opportunity employer/program. TTY/TDD use Florida Relay Service 711.

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Tags: apprenticeship, grants, Indian River County, manufacturing, Martin County, press release, St. Lucie County