On May 11, 2021, community and industry leaders joined the College of Central Florida, Lockheed Martin, and CareerSource Florida to cut the ribbon and formally open a state-of-the-art apprentice lab in Ocala. The lab is the training center at the College for the new two-year apprenticeship program that will train electronics associates to solder circuit cards and wiring harnesses used in aerospace and defense systems.
Apprentice participants in the program will receive 80 hours of classroom hours in the new lab and then transition to Lockheed Martin’s Ocala facility to receive additional training and education as they complete the program.
“Our partnership with the College of Central Florida and CareerSource Florida extends our training capabilities and is instrumental in providing a sustainable talent pipeline for our future operations as we strive to help create highly skilled and high-wage career opportunities,” said Phil Lowery, director of Lockheed Martin Ocala operations.[i]
Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, publicly announced the launch of the apprenticeship program lead by the College of Central Florida, Lockheed Martin, and CareerSource Florida earlier this year. The program has grown from the 2019 innovative partnership between CareerSource Florida and Lockheed Martin and their commitments to hire and train apprentices for the Lockheed Martin workforce in Ocala.
“Lockheed Martin’s new apprenticeship program with CareerSource Florida exemplifies many of the reasons why Florida is the best state to do business: we are focused on job creation, partnerships, innovation, and workforce education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The expansion of workforce education and training programs is an essential element of our mission to ensure Florida is No. 1 in the nation for workforce education.”[ii]
The two-year program will congratulate its first round of graduates in July 2021, with the second apprenticeship class begins May 24.
Growing Florida’s skill-based workforce is a top priority, and partnerships are vital in training the workforce in our region and across the state. We must work together to close the workforce skills gap, offer valuable technical skills, and create sustainable career paths in Florida’s manufacturing industry.
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Those who want to apply for the program should visit lockheedmartinjobs.com or CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion’s website at careersourceclm.com for contact information. Read more about the Apprenticeship Lab on the CareerSource Florida News page. Additional pictures are on the Ocala Star Banner’s Photo Gallery for the Ribbon Cutting page.
[i] CareerSource Florida Staff. 2021. “CareerSource Florida News.” CareerSource Florida. May 11. Accessed May 22, 2021. https://careersourceflorida.com/college-of-central-florida-cuts-ribbon-on-innovative-apprenticeship-lab/.
[ii] CareerSource Florida Staff. 2021. “CareerSource Florida News.” CareerSource Florida. February 24. Accessed May 22, 2021. https://careersourceflorida.com/governor-desantis-announces-launch-of-lockheed-martin/.