FloridaMakes Apprenticeship Expansion Grant

FloridaMakes Apprenticeship Expansion Grant is sponsored by FloridaMakes. Expands registered apprenticeship programs for Florida manufacturers, offering no-cost upskilling for new hires and existing employees.

FloridaMakes Awarded $600,000 Pathways Grant to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities for Florida Manufacturers Skip auxiliary navigation (Press Enter). Find Your Local FloridaMakes Network Partner FloridaMakes Awarded $600,000 Pathways Grant to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities for Florida Manufacturers Mariely Velez, Marketing and Communications Manager, FloridaMakes mariely. velez@floridamakes.

com FloridaMakes Awarded $600,000 Pathways Grant to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities for Florida Manufacturers ORLANDO, Fla. — FloridaMakes has been awarded $600,000 through Florida’s Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, administered by the Florida Department of Education, to expand its registered apprenticeship programs for Florida manufacturers. The grant will support no-cost upskilling for both new hires and existing employees.

The funding builds on FloridaMakes’ proven apprenticeship model, which has supported manufacturers statewide in strengthening productivity, improving retention, and creating clear pathways for employee advancement.

The grant will support expansion of FloridaMakes’ established apprenticeship programs, including Industrial Manufacturing Technician, Production Technician, Manufacturing Maintenance Technician, Quality Control Technician, and the addition of a new Tool and Die Maker occupation, allowing manufacturers to grow talent internally while filling critical, high-skill positions.

“This investment strengthens our ability to meet manufacturers where their workforce needs are today and position them for future growth,” said Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. FloridaMakes apprenticeships are designed to support incumbent worker upskilling while accelerating onboarding and skill development for new hires.

By combining structured on-the-job training with industry-recognized technical instruction, manufacturers are able to elevate frontline workers into higher-skill roles, reduce turnover, and build a more resilient workforce. “Our apprenticeship programs give Florida manufacturers a no-cost, turnkey solution to upskill both new hires and existing employees,” said Marcelo DosSantos, Director of Workforce Development at FloridaMakes.

FloridaMakes will work with select community partners, including Samaritan Center and Elevance Health, to support recruitment and placement by connecting manufacturers with job-ready candidates to fill open positions. These efforts strengthen manufacturers’ talent pipelines while complementing FloridaMakes’ employer-driven apprenticeship model focused on skills development, advancement, and workforce stability.

Through this initiative, FloridaMakes expects to engage manufacturers across Florida, increase apprenticeship enrollment across multiple occupations, and continue demonstrating how registered apprenticeships serve as a high-impact workforce strategy, helping manufacturers remain competitive while creating meaningful, long-term career opportunities for Florida’s manufacturing workforce.

Manufacturers interested in participating are encouraged to contact FloridaMakes. Participation does not require a grant application; manufacturers simply need a workforce upskilling need for new or existing employees. FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, nonprofit organization that strengthens and advances Florida’s manufacturing economy.

As the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, FloridaMakes works with manufacturers to grow their businesses, improve competitiveness, and develop a skilled workforce through training, technology adoption, and strategic partnerships. FloridaMakes is supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the State of Florida, and industry partners.

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