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Highlands Today

Money Available For Training For Utility Companies

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By BILL ROGERS Highlands Today

Published: July 20, 2008

SEBRING - Training money for both public and private utility companies in the region is being offered through a first-time project.

Workforce Florida Inc. is making $500,000 availablefor thespecial project and the money is being made available for businesses, counties, municipalities throughout the six-county Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern area that includes Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee, according to Roger Hood, president/CEO of the Heartland Workforce Board.

A teleconference call with Debbie McMullian, program specialist for the Quick Response Training program with Workforce Florida Inc. in Tallahassee, was held Thursday in Sebring with several utility representatives attending.

Saying it is "unlike any grant you have ever seen," McMullian said it is a noncompetitive grant. Also, municipalities and counties may participate.

"There is a lot of flexibility," she said.

Hood explained that the training program is normally only available to private-sector businesses/organizations.It is state-funded and is normally offered to selected businesses to train their new, full-time employees.

A business pays for pre-approved, direct training-related costs, and is reimbursed by the state, through Workforce Florida, upon submission and approval of required documentation.

The utility industry, which includes energy and water/wastewater, was targeted because those jobs are normally classified as high skill/high wage positions. Hood noted that Region 19, which includes Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties, has the lowest average wage of all the workforce regions in the state.

Paul McGehee, business development manager for Glades Electric Cooperative Inc., attended the meeting. He said a good portion of company's budget goes to training and continuing education, especially for linemen.

"With advanced metering technologies in place and upgrading our system, this will go a long way toward helping alleviate some of those training costs," McGehee said.

"It also makes it attractive for the higher-skilled, high-wage people to come into the area," he added. "I think it is good for economic development, too knowing that this is available."

South Florida Community College has agreed to be the fiscal agent because the money has to be handled through a state-connected agency.

"This is an exciting initiative for us," Hood said.

Reporter Bill Rogers may be reached at 386-5825 or by e-mail at worgers@highlandstoday.com

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