Throughout 2020, the Bay Economic Development Alliance (Bay EDA) and Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) partnered with local manufacturers to establish the Gulf Coast FAME Chapter in Northwest Florida.
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is a national work-study program that develops global entry-level multi-craft maintenance technicians. It is through the collective efforts of multiple community partners including but not limited to Trane Technologies, Gulf Coast State College, Bay EDA, and CareerSource Gulf Coast, the Gulf Coast FAME Chapter was established. The Gulf Coast FAME Chapter strives to ensure that our local industry continues to recruit the talent needed to support operations.
In 2010, the first FAME Chapter was established in Kentucky to support local manufacturing operations. From there, chapters have grown to over thirty locations throughout the United States. Recently, FAME was recognized by the Brookings Institute for the impressive participant success after graduation. Their study found that FAME graduates earned 63% more than non-FAME graduates who had similar education experiences and similar careers. For the Gulf Coast FAME Chapter, founding companies include Trane Technologies, Berg Pipe, Merrick Industries, Eastern Shipbuilding, ACMT, EPS, Maritech Machine, and others.
Over time, this program is designed to create a pipeline of broadly trained individuals who can transition to full-time employment upon graduation. For participating companies, this program will become a critical pipeline for attracting skilled talent into their advanced manufacturing operations. The program recruits students and pairs them with a sponsoring company to complete a two-year apprenticeship program. During the program, students receive formal classroom training two days per week and work onsite at their sponsoring company three days a week.
Participants in the FAME program can be recent high school graduates, military members transitioning to the workforce, or individuals looking to move into a new career path. The FAME program is designed to give students hands-on experience while also providing formal educational credentials. The program has focuses on professional presence skills, lean manufacturing acumen, as well as formal technical capabilities.
Gulf Coast FAME has been actively recruiting students to participate in the first cohort. The starting cohort of students will begin the FAME program in Fall 2021, with future cohorts beginning each Fall thereafter. Interested students should visit the Gulf Coast State College website at www.GulfCoast.edu or contact Ben Moorman at Ben@BayEDA.com for additional information. Likewise, interested industry partners should contact Ben Moorman at Ben@BayEDA.com for additional information.
"Sponsored by Enterprise Florida. Content created by Bay Economic Development Alliance."
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