Florida Awards $14.6 Million to Expand Preapprenticeship and Apprenticeship Opportunities in Florida

July 15, 2026

FDOE Press Office 850-245-0413 [email protected]

Florida Awards $14.6 Million to Expand Preapprenticeship and Apprenticeship Opportunities in Florida

Tallahassee, Fla., Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - Today, Florida awarded $14.6 million through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG) to fund 37 entities to start, expand or operate registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs at Florida school districts, colleges and private training entities. The funding will support over 8,000 students as they commit to receiving on-the-job training and related classroom instruction simultaneously.

"Governor DeSantis' continued investment in workforce education is creating meaningful opportunities for Floridians to build in-demand skills and prepare for rewarding careers," said Interim Commissioner of Education Paul O. Burns. "By combining classroom instruction with hands-on training, these programs give students a direct path to success while helping Florida employers develop the highly skilled workforce needed to compete and grow."

Florida is unquestionably the national leader in preparing a skilled, future-ready workforce through historic investments and industry-driven programs. To date, PCOG has awarded $120 million to fund 387 proposals, serving more than 28,000 students. As a result, students across Florida have been provided greater access to high-quality, proven training methods that benefit both job seekers and businesses through apprenticeship and preapprenticeship opportunities and programs.

Governor Ron DeSantis has committed more than $12 billion to workforce education and training, securing Florida's spot at #1 in the Nation for Workforce Education. The results speak for themselves with:

• A 70% increase in the number of registered apprentices
• A 49% increase in the number of registered apprenticeship programs
• An incredible 153% increase in the number of apprenticeable occupations
• A record 25,000 active apprentices and pre-apprentices, an 11% increase over the previous year.

Institutions receiving funding through the PCOG in 2026-27 are:

• AAR Aircraft Services Inc.
• ABC Institute
• AFSA Florida
• Betros Plumbing Contractors, Inc.
• Boys Electrical Contractors, LLC
• Brevard Public Schools (Brevard Adult and Community Education)
• Central Florida Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
• Community Health Centers of Pinellas, dba Evara Health
• Crash Champions
• Flagler County Schools/Flagler Technical College
• Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association
• Florida East Coast Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
• Florida Finishing Trades Institute
• Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors
• Florida Training Services, Inc.
• Gulf Coast Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee Inc.
• Independent Electrical Contractors FWCC
• Jacksonville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, dba Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville
• Jacksonville Plumbers and Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust
• Lee Health
• Miami Dade College
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools
• NCN Electric Inc.
• Northeast Florida Builders Association Workforce Education Institute
• Pipe U Palm Beach County Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Pipefitting Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee dba Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No 630
• Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 123 Apprenticeship Training Trust
• Project BUILD SWFL
• Ring Power Corporation
• ROOTS Engineering Services
• Santa Rosa County School District/Locklin Technical College
• South Florida Operating Engineers Apprentice and Training Trust
• SpaceTEC Partners Inc.
• State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
• Tallahassee State College
• Tampa Area Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
• UF Health Jacksonville
• Volusia County Schools

For a complete list of grant awards for 2026-27 and for additional information about PCOG, visit: https://www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant/.