Get There: Polk State partners with Florida Department of Education on workforce education initiative
Polk State College is excited to join forces with the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) on a new workforce education initiative aimed at raising awareness of short-term career and technical education programs. Get There Florida highlights the key benefits of the programs available locally at Polk State and to all Floridians statewide.
“Polk State is thrilled to partner with the Florida Department of Education to increase awareness about the life-transforming opportunities available through the College’s short-term workforce training programs,” Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti said. “Our College is committed to the pivotal role it plays in assisting Florida with becoming No. 1 in workforce education by 2030. Together, we will Get There.”
Career and technical education, often referred to as “CTE,” serves as a critical component in preparing individuals for occupations important to Florida’s economic development. Program offerings are organized into 17 career paths and are geared toward middle school, high school, district technical school, and Florida College System students throughout the state.
“Get There accelerates student success, preparing them for their future and ensuring a talented workforce,” said Kathy Hebda, Chancellor of the Florida College System. “With 28 state colleges and 48 technical colleges and centers spanning the state, there is a program for everyone. Whether you’ve recently experienced job loss, graduated high school, or are simply looking for a career change or opportunity to stack your credentials into a degree – we want to help you Get There.”
At Polk State, students can enroll in an in-demand, high-quality workforce program, move quickly, and gain critical skills needed in essential and emerging industries. Programs include:
- Accounting Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Digital Media Graphic Design Production
- Digital Media Web Production
- Digital Media Video Production
- Engineering Technology Specialist
- Logistic and Transportation Specialist
- Certified Production Technician
- Certified Logistics Technician
- Computer Numeric Control Machining
There are scholarship funds available through Polk State’s Fast Forward initiative to provide free training for students in these programs as well.
“The wide-ranging effects of COVID-19 are just beginning to be realized across our state’s workforce,” said Henry Mack, Chancellor for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. “This initiative was born from the need to match those seeking reemployment or advancement in the workplace with employers whose products and services either facilitate relief and response to the COVID-19 disruption or are not susceptible to disruption.”
At GetThereFL.com, Floridians can learn more about CTE and workforce training programs available at state and technical colleges, align their interests with a career path, and connect with their local institution to enroll.