A new opportunity for Bay area students is offering a two-year degree debt-free in the form of an apprenticeship for manufacturing. It’s called the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing Skills Initiative.
Innovation begins with hands-on learning, and students working at Pharmaworks get to reap the benefits.
“We’re seeing what’s done in the real world,” said high school student Daniel Till.
Students like Till are excited to take advantage of the program.
“I just like being able to have something made that is useful, you know -- have a purpose,” he said.
It’s a four year apprenticeship and at the end students earn a post-secondary degree as well as industry recognized certifications. The best part is that it’s free. The students also get paid.
“Being able to work as an apprentice without having debt afterward is pretty nice,” said Till.
Manufacturing is one of the largest industries in the state. It employs more than 300,000 people with the average person making around $50,000. Manufacturing also accounts for 85-90 percent of Florida’s exports.
It is a push for students like Madison Kacir to go into the industry.
“Right when I walked in I was like, 'I have to work here,' this is the coolest thing, it was almost like Disney for nerds,” said Kacir.
Kacir plans on being an aerospace engineer.
“It’s inspired me to always keep learning and if you make a mistake, maybe falter in something, to always get back up and try again.”
Industry leaders say this will help fill the void it has now with the lack of qualified talent. They believe it will also attract more companies to the area.
Five training centers like Pharmaworks will be located throughout Pasco, Hernando, and Pinellas counties. The initiative costs over $2 million. It is state and county funded.