Blogs

Breaking Ground: Florida's Manufacturing Sector Shines in Inaugural Report

By Amanda Starling posted 03-19-2024
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~ FloridaCommerce and FloridaMakes Release First-Ever Manufacturing Report, Showcasing Sector's Vital Role in State Economy ~ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, FloridaCommerce and FloridaMakes highlight Florida’s inaugural manufacturing report, showcasing the sector's vital role in Florida’s economy. With nearly 25,000 manufacturing establishments in the state, Florida’s economic impact in manufacturing surpassed the contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many other strong industries that Florida is usually known for, including– tourism, agriculture, and transportation. Presented in the Florida’s 2023 Manufacturing Report , manufacturing represents a ...
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FloridaMakes Bridges the Manufacturing Sector Talent Gap by Facilitating Employment of Veterans with Florida Manufacturers

By Amanda Starling posted 02-21-2024
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2024 Media Contact: Frances Nevill, Director of Communications, FloridaMakes frances.nevill@floridamakes.com 407.491.9543 “Bring the Veteran Advantage to the Workplace” Initiative Connects Veterans to Manufacturing ORLANDO, FL —FloridaMakes, the official representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in the state of Florida, proudly announces the launch of a groundbreaking workforce program in sync with Governor DeSantis' goal of enhancing employment and educational opportunities for veterans, active military members, and their families. This initiative, “Bring the Veteran Advantage to the Workplace" ...
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Large-Scale Supplier Opportunity for U.S. Manufacturers - DUE JANUARY 12, 2024

By Mike Aller posted 01-11-2024
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As TOPSOE prepares to establish manufacturing facilities in the United States, they are on the lookout for over 3,000 dynamic suppliers to be part of this groundbreaking journey. Ready to be a key player in their network? Click the link for all the details on how to secure your spot at their Supplier Summit in Houston, Texas on February 8, 2024: engage.topsoe.com/supplier-summit-ptx Act fact as the application to attend closes on January 12, 2024 ! Need capabilities include: Metalwork & parts: Sheet Metal Fabrication, Laser Cutting, Welding of Parts, Bending, Stamping, Deep drawing, Pressing, Light Forging, Precision ...
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Prestigious Bob Provitola Manufacturing Leadership Award Acknowledges Outstanding Achievement

By Patricia Velez posted 11-02-2023
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2023 Media Contact: Zoraida Velasco FloridaMakes zoraida.velasco@floridamakes.com Prestigious Bob Provitola Manufacturing Leadership Award Acknowledges Outstanding Achievement ORLANDO, FL — FloridaMakes announced Roy Sweatman, the President of Southern Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. as the recipient of the prestigious Bob Provitola Manufacturing Leadership Award during the Annual MakeMore Manufacturing Summit on October 25 and 26. This award recognizes exemplary manufacturing leadership within the state of Florida. Named in honor of the late Bob Provitola, ...
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FloridaMakes Invitation to Negotiate for Integrated Marketing and Communications Services

By Patricia Velez posted 08-14-2023
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PURPOSE FloridaMakes issues this Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to elicit responses from full-service marketing and public relations firms capable of contracting with FloridaMakes to provide strategic, comprehensive marketing, communications, advertising, outreach and public relations services. The contractual relationship(s) will facilitate increased public awareness of FloridaMakes and the FloridaMakes network’s services and resources, enhanced public and stakeholder education and strong collaboration among strategic partners. In accordance with this organization ’s guidelines that call for periodic ...
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Now Open: Nominations for the 3rd Annual Bob Provitola Manufacturing Leadership Award

By Patricia Velez posted 08-11-2023
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FloridaMakes Network Opens Nominations for 3rd Annual Bob Provitola Manufacturing Leadership Award The award recognizes volunteer leaders who are making a positive impact within Florida’s manufacturing sector. The award was created in 2021 in memoriam of Bob Provitola, Division Vice President of Mitsubishi Power Americas and founding board chair of the FloridaMakes Network. Throughout his career, Mr. Provitola contributed to many state and local educational and economic development initiatives directed at improving the manufacturing economy in Florida and creating high-wage, high-skill jobs. Nominations for the award are submitted ...
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Level 2 Commercial EV charging station manufacturing

By Mike Aller posted 08-10-2023
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Due to the nature of this request, interested companies will be submitted quarterly to the EPA, through the listing period, ending January 2024. The EPA is looking to identify domestic manufacturers, meeting Buy America Provisions, that manufacture Level 2 (rated power level: <10kW) chargers to support its Clean School Bus Program. Level 2 chargers are approximately 16" x 16" x 5" but sizing can vary slightly. While charging stations vary, core components would include cable, steel, thermoplastic, copper, alternator, wiring, electronic control units, lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite, nickel, etc. These will be deployed at school districts nationwide and ...
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Florida Manufacturing Days - Registration Open!

By Amanda Starling posted 08-04-2023
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Registration is now open for the 2024 Florida Manufacturing Days! This annual event is a time for manufacturers and other industry stakeholders to meet with legislators and statewide partners to discuss and advocate for manufacturing related issues and to learn more about the legislative process. The events and meetings hosted during this time are an opportunity for participants to not only network but lend their voice in shaping Florida's manufacturing business environment. Florida Manufacturing Days will be held on February 13 & 14, 2024 in Tallahassee, FL. You can find more information and register here . #LatestNews
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Save the Dates - 2024 Florida Manufacturing Days

By Amanda Starling posted 06-29-2023
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Save the Dates! 2024 Florida Manufacturing Days will be held on January 23 & 24, 2024. This annual event is a time for manufacturers and other industry stakeholders to meet with legislators and statewide partners to discuss and advocate for manufacturing related issues and to learn more about the legislative process. The events and meetings hosted during this time are an opportunity for participants to not only network but lend their voice in shaping Florida's manufacturing business environment. You can find more information, including sponsorship opportunities, on our website here .
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Elizabeth Huy: The Sky’s the Limit for Women in Manufacturing

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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When I began supporting regional manufacturers in 2008, I quickly became an advocate for the industry. A growing and thriving manufacturing base directly benefits the economy and enhances the quality of life within a community. Manufacturing has many vibrant career pathways from entry-level to executive, and here on the Space Coast, we have world-leading technologies being designed, built and launched into space! According to a recent study by Deloitte, women represent 47% of the overall U.S. workforce; however, only about 29% of the workforce are in manufacturing. This gap makes women the most untapped pool of talent. The good news is there are increasingly ...
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Beth Galic: Ask Questions, Stay Curious, Know Your Worth

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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As a young girl, I remember touring manufacturing facilities in school and was fascinated with the companies. I imagined how interesting it would be to work in the industry. I wanted to find a career in manufacturing because I knew that it offered a wide variety of career pathways. As I started to find my place, as a woman innovator, I was met with resistance. It was a resistance to make any changes to business models from the old ways. To overcome this, I provided regular training sessions, one-on-one meetings, and created training materials my staff could use to help make them more proficient. I learned that education, communication and persistence are key ...
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Patti Gander: Speaking Up and Shaking It Up

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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Growing up, I wanted to be Angie Dickinson, who helped re-define women’s roles on television with her pioneering role on the 1970s show, Police Woman. As I got older, I realized that becoming Angie wasn’t an option for me; however, because of my father, manufacturing became interesting. From a young age, I would join him on the weekends as he went to work in maintenance at a manufacturing company. So, I guess you could say I have been in manufacturing since I was four! Many years later when I was a manufacturing manager for a company that was part of a very large corporation, a guy from corporate invited all the guys to play golf. The outing didn’t include ...
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Angie Ruff: Success is My Noise

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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When I was younger, I knew that manufacturing was an option for me. I really wanted to become an engineer –– and I did! I've always been interested in how things work and how things are put together, which is what led me on the path I’m on today. I come from a family of farmers and manufacturing workers, and this gave me inspiration about manufacturing and solidified what I wanted for my career. As I started to progress in my field, barriers would pop up, such as being called “little lady” (a lot!). Something that helped me move beyond these sorts of obstacles was to ignore stereotypes and ill-informed people. Never let anyone undermine your capabilities. The ...
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Sherry Reeves: Avionics Job Took Career to New Heights

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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As a young woman, I never considered a career in manufacturing. However, my first job right out of high school was at Collins Avionics in Melbourne, Florida. I didn’t know it at the time, but this job would be the beginning of a lifelong career in this industry. Today, young women have the opportunity to build exciting and successful careers in manufacturing. One attractive benefit to a career in manufacturing is the ability to receive high wages at all different levels. This includes the ability to reach their maximum potential and possibly develop and manufacture something for our future. I have found that my passion for the field and continuing to be bold ...
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Mary Nutial: A Manufacturing Career is Both Interesting + Rewarding

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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I grew up in rural Georgia, and there, local manufacturers offered summer jobs to high school students. By default, I found my first job at a manufacturing plant that made women’s clothes. I think manufacturing was easy for me to choose because when I was a young girl. My father would take me to work with him on the weekends when he would check on operations at the local quarry. I was constantly around heavy equipment and manufacturing, so it’s what I knew. Manufacturing is exciting to me because it allows me to make great products and grow professionally. One of my favorite things about working in manufacturing has been working directly with people in operations. ...
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Paula DeLuca: Learn From Others and Grow Daily

By Amanda Starling posted 06-26-2023
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When I was growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to do careerwise. My dad worked in manufacturing, and that’s how I started to become curious about the sector, even though I didn’t jump right into the field. I started off as a waitress, and eventually, I moved to another state and started working in insurance claims. When I moved back to my hometown, I took a job at a medical device manufacturing company in inventory control. This job was the beginning of my career in customer service, logistics and materials management. Now, I am very happy to be working with manufacturing companies to help them grow, make improvements, and learn about new technology and opportunities. ...
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2023 Florida Manufacturing Days

By Amanda Starling posted 03-02-2023
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The Florida Manufacturing & Supply Chain Advocacy Council celebrated the “2023 Florida Manufacturing Days” on January 24 and 25 in our state capitol with a delegation of nearly 50 manufacturing stakeholders. During the two days, attendees met with over 60 legislators. Florida is home to over 24,000 manufacturers, who employ 423,000 workers. Every $1 in manufactured goods produces $2.68 across all other sectors. Thank you to our sponsors Clifton Larson Allen, Florida Economic Development Council, and Southern Manufacturing Technologies! And thank you to all who participated! Join us in 2024! #LatestNews
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Girl Scouts of Citrus, Rosie Riveters, and FloridaMakes Partner to Inspire Young Girls into Careers in Manufacturing

By Patricia Velez posted 02-16-2023
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Click here to download informational flyer. MEDIA CONTACTS: Susan Ennis, Girl Scout of Citrus; (407) 228- 1606; sennis@citrus-gs.org Brittany Geer, Rosie Riveters; (703) 364-9389 Brittany.geer@rosieriveters.com Zoraida Velasco, FloridaMakes; (407) 430-7714; Zoraida.velasco@floridamakes.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2023 Girl Scouts of Citrus, Rosie Riveters, and FloridaMakes Partner to Inspire Young Girls into Careers in Manufacturing Orlando, FL – Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Rosie Riveters, and FloridaMakes announced a partnership that will create awareness and confidence in young girls to ...
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Opportunity #10: Gear Box for T-38 Trainer Aircraft

By Mike Aller posted 02-02-2023
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CONNEX Marketplace is posting on behalf of a US Air Force Base NSN 1680-01-440-5106 Gear Box Looking for contractor to supply serviceable condition Gear Boxes. The aircraft mounted accessory drive gearbox is a two-speed, automatic-shifting unit driven by the engine through a drive shaft. The shifting mechanism is hydraulically actuated and governor controlled to maintain the output speed within the required range for the AC generator and hydraulic pump. Qualified suppliers who wish to respond to this need must: • Join the CONNEX MarketplaceTM community. • Respond in CONNEX MarketplaceTM to the Exchange Center posting shared in this document. • Have a completed ...
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FloridaMakes and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation Partner to Increase Small Manufacturer Growth

By Patricia Velez posted 01-25-2023
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Florida First Capital Finance Corporation and FloridaMakes Partner to Increase Small Manufacturer Growth Tallahassee, FL – Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFC) and FloridaMakes have partnered to help Florida’s small manufacturers grow their businesses and create additional jobs. The partnership will increase awareness of capital access options and assist small manufacturers in securing the financial and technical resources to achieve their business growth goals FFC is a nonprofit certified development company, created by the State of Florida to promote economic development and job creation by small businesses. FFC ...
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