WHAT
- To introduce area high school seniors who are not college bound to employment and training opportunities right here in our community as part of the Future Career Academy (FCA).
- Three field trips are scheduled in three different communities (East Tampa, Plant City and South County) serving 10 different high schools to help students find their path to success.
- More than 700 students will visit multiple businesses in their community to meet owners and employees, learn about the industry, business operations, entry level jobs, and career growth opportunities, and get a feel for the culture.
- Key business and community leaders from some of the area’s most respected businesses will be participating in each of the tours.
WHEN/WHEREMedia Note:Students will be transported by bus to the various participating businesses. Buses will leave each school at 9am the day of the field trip.
Friday, Jan. 28 – East Tampa(Armwood, King and Middleton High Schools)
9:15 – 11:35am – 203 students will tour the following businesses:
- Bausch & Lomb – 8500 Hidden River Pkwy.
- American Builders Supply – 6514 Pelican Creek Circle (Riverview)
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office – 520 N. Falkenburg Rd.
- Sun State International – 6020 Adamo Dr.
- Tampa Steel Erecting Co. – 5127 Bloomingdale Ave.
12 – 1:20pm – Lunch – The Cuban Club – 2010 N. Avenida Republica de Cuba
Students will have an opportunity to hear more about FCA, network with businesses and training partners, and share their insights about the program.
Elected officials confirmed to attend include:
- Kimberly Oberman – Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, District 7, Countywide, Chair
- Orlando Gudes – Tampa City Council, District 5, Chairman
- Guido Maniscalco – Tampa City Council, District 6
- Karen Perez – Hillsborough County School Board, District 6
1:40 – 2:40pm – Students will continue touring the following businesses:
- Bausch & Lomb – 8500 Hidden River Pkwy.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office – 520 N. Falkenburg Rd.
- Tampa Steel Erecting Co. – 5127 Bloomingdale Ave.
- Graybar Electrical Supply – 8520 Eagle Palm Dr. (Riverview)
- The Learning Alliance – 5920 Breckenridge Pkwy. Suite B
Thursday, Feb. 3 – Plant City(Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest High Schools, and Simmons Career Acceleration Academy)
~293 Students will tour several Plant City businesses, including Stingray Chevrolet and Ace Hardware. Schedule and list of additional businesses to be confirmed.
Wednesday, Feb. 9 – South County(Newsome, East Bay and Lennard High Schools)
~221 Students will tour several South County businesses, including Mosaic. Schedule and list of additional businesses to be confirmed.
WHO
FCA, in partnership with the Hillsborough County Public School District, Hillsborough Community College and leaders in the regional business community, bridges the gap for non-college bound students by providing a targeted, integrated curriculum, specific soft and workforce development skills, access to certifications and apprenticeships, a solid pathway to directly enter the workforce, and the opportunity to identify a long-term career, not just a job.
FCA is a program of Workforce Development Partners Corp (WDPC), a Florida based non-profit focused on workforce innovation via collaborative models.
WHY
FCA began as a partnership between Hillsborough County Public Schools and the business community in 2015 to disrupt the cycle of dead-end or low-paying jobs for non-college bound students and to put them on the path to in-demand, living wage entry-level jobs in their communities with long-term career growth and sustained employment.