As a recent WIRED (Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development) grant region, Northwest Florida has had a unique opportunity to develop workforce capacity, talent and training solutions to meet the needs of existing and potential employers. In addition, our region is home to one of the single largest concentrations of military education and training facilities in the world, providing talented and dedicated men and women who are eager to contribute their unique skills to employers throughout the panhandle of Florida.
The University of West Florida has serviced more than 100,000 students from all over the world in currently enrolls more than 10,000 in its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and College of Professional Studies. UWF has conferred more than 60,000 bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees. UWF's research centers are nationally recognized and include the Archaeology Institute and the Center for Environmental Diagnostics and bioremediation.
With parent and branch locations strategically dispersed, Chipola College, Gulf Coast Community College, Northwest Florida State College, and Pensacola State College service populations from dually enrolled high school students to traditional students, to those interested in lifelong learning. The diverse blend of institutions across the region share a common thread in that all are dedicated to providing a quality education and preparing tomorrow's workforce for a globally competitive environment. All are committed to supplying Northwest Florida with a robust, talented workforce and to ensure this, educational administrators are actively involved with local business communities to make certain they offer the programs required to meet employers' needs.
Northwest Florida was identified as one of the original U.S. Department of Labor WIRED regions and received a grant in the amount of $15 million. This substantial federal grant funded workforce development initiatives throughout Northwest Florida. Established regionally as a matching grant program, it translated into a minimum $30 million investment in talent development addressing the high-wage, high-skill workforce needs in the target industries of Aviation, Aerospace, Defense and National Security; Life Sciences; Information Technology; Engineering; Renewable Energy and Environment; Distribution, Transportation and Logistics; and Construction Product Manufacturing and Distribution.
