OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The College of Central Florida (CF) is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of advanced manufacturing. Through the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program (CAP Grant), $4,973,503 has been granted to the college to establish a Center for Advanced Manufacturing that school leaders say will revolutionize technological and engineering education.
CF says the new facility will be on the Ocala campus and will support several programs including the Associate in Science in Engineering Technology program and its specializations. There will also be new programs offered including the Rapid Prototyping College Credit Certificate, which will be available at both the Ocala and Citrus campuses, and the expansion of the Mechanical Designer and Programmer College Credit Certificate to the Citrus campus.
“This project represents a massive step forward in CF’s strategic and ongoing efforts to offer technology programs that are expressly linked to emerging markets and high-skill, high-wage jobs,” said CF President Dr. James Henningsen in a news release. “It also helps ensure our graduates will go to work in our local manufacturing economy as technology leaders for those employers.”
The school says the project involves a comprehensive remodel of Building 9 in order to transform it into a cutting-edge hub for education with state-of-the-art classrooms and labs that will assist the CF Corporate College services.