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Staff Report

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two prominent Broward organizations are collaborating to provide workforce training and create jobs.

Broward College and the Urban League of Broward County were awarded $3,187,500, the largest amount ever awarded for a single project, by the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for its Building the CORE (Critical Occupation Response through Education) program.

Broward College’s Building the CORE, in partnership with the Urban League of Broward County, will provide real-world workforce training for 1,500 individuals over three years and create more than 1,275 local jobs to meet industry demand and market forecasts in advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace and information technology.

“With this support, we will develop an innovative and lasting workforce education model with statewide impact,” said Broward College President J David Armstrong, Jr. “Broward College will continue to work closely with our valued community partners, especially the Urban League of Broward County, to ensure we maximize these funds to the fullest to provide our students with practical and transferrable job skills.”

Through the program, Broward College’s Emil Buehler Aviation Institute will offer students face-to-face learning opportunities and access to the specialized equipment required by the Federal Aviation Institute. Advanced manufacturing will be expanded to address the growth of technology-enabled production processes across all industries and technology will increase Broward College’s involvement with big data, cloud computing, cyber security, quality improvement and project management.

Regardless of the level at which they enter the program, participants will receive case management while in the program and ongoing career guidance upon competition.

“Recently the Urban League of Broward County and Broward College worked together to prepare 180 South Florida residents for supply chain jobs in the market which led to participants earning 117 unique certifications as well as improving the health and sustainability of our local economy,” said Germaine Smith-Baugh, Urban League of Broward County president and CEO.

“Through this award by the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, our collaboration can continue and grow to ensure job opportunities in our community that pay a living wage and uplift individuals and families looking to better their lives”

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is underwritten by the State of Florid and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and was created to promote economic opportunity by improving public infrastructure and enhancing workforce training.