Florida's Great Northwest Funds IT and Engineering Scholarships at Regional Colleges

(Destin, Fla.) – Florida’s Great Northwest announced this week its investment in certificate and degree programs in information technology (IT) and engineering at seven Northwest Florida colleges. Participating in the scholarship program are the University of West Florida, Pensacola Junior College, Northwest Florida State College, Gulf Coast Community College, Chipola College, Tallahassee Community College, and Florida State University. Through its post-secondary education scholarship program, Florida’s Great Northwest is awarding two grants, totaling $1,150,000, to be used for scholarships to aid in developing a qualified IT and engineering workforce within the region.

Research conducted by Florida’s Great Northwest has identified the business sectors of information technology and engineering as critical support industries for growing a knowledge-based economy in Northwest Florida and for supporting the growth in technology-based businesses such as aerospace and defense, medical technologies, health services and renewable energy.  This grant award is a response to the workforce deficit in computing and engineering occupations in Northwest Florida as identified in a recent study conducted jointly by Florida’s Great Northwest and the University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development. The study revealed a dramatic shortage of graduates from certification through graduate degrees in computer engineering, industrial engineering, computer specialist programs and engineering technician programs in Northwest Florida as well as at the state and national levels. 

Furthermore, the study revealed sufficient IT and engineering courses are already offered throughout the region. The capacity at the region’s colleges and universities exists, but there are not enough graduates from the programs to meet the region’s growing demand. To address the issue, Florida’s Great Northwest developed the post-secondary scholarship program to spur enrollment in the region’s existing IT and engineering programs.

“IT and engineering are driving forces in the expansion of Northwest Florida’s increasingly high-tech, knowledge-based industries,” said Al Wenstrand, president of Florida’s Great Northwest. “The businesses in the region have identified a critical workforce need, confirmed by the Haas Center study. Through partnerships between Florida’s Great Northwest and the region’s post-secondary institutions, we are attempting to meet that need by growing a workforce from within Northwest Florida.

“Growing our own talent in high-wage, high-skill occupations is a long-term strategy that reflects a significant benefit for the citizens of Northwest Florida while creating a workforce that will meet the needs of the technology businesses that even in this recession are growing and demanding additional employees.”

A unique six-college alliance, the Northwest Florida Consortium, comprised of the University of West Florida, Pensacola Junior College, Northwest Florida State College, Gulf Coast Community College, Chipola College and Tallahassee Community College, will use the grant to award approximately 378 scholarships to IT and engineering students.  Eligible programs range from certification to master’s degree and span programs such as Master of Science in Software Engineering and Database Systems, Associate’s in Computer Engineering, Networking Services, Technical Support and as well as certificates in Technology Systems, Information Technology Management, Web Development and Computer Programming, among others. The consortium will match the $1 million grant with $2,631,935 for a total program investment of more than $3.5 million.

“Our higher education consortium is pleased to receive this grant,” said Judy Bense, president of the University of West Florida. “It will enable us to better serve our region in measurable ways as we seek to expand our knowledge-based economy. Our six institutions are committed to working together so we can provide streamlined and easier access to higher education and expand our ability to offer academic programs that will give our students a much greater opportunity to get a high-paying job with a great future right here in Northwest Florida.”

“Just as rewarding as the scholarship program and its future impact on the regional workforce is the collaboration at the president and provost levels by the consortium’s six regional institutions,” said Wenstrand.  “Our thanks and congratulations go to University of West Florida President Judy Bense who led the formation of the consortium, as well as to the presidents of the other five institutions.

“The level of cooperation and coordination among the institutions is truly outstanding and deserves significant praise.”

Florida State University’s College of Communication and Information will utilize the funds to offer 50 scholarships for students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in IT specializing in Computer Networking, Computer Security, General Computer Support, Web Design or Health Informatics. Florida State University will match the $150,000 grant with $153,016.

"The Florida State University is pleased to be a part of this effort to help strengthen the economic environment of the region," said Dr. Larry Dennis, dean of the College of Communication and Information. "Florida's Great Northwest's support enables us to provide scholarships to 50 students seeking careers in IT. This commitment to growing a high-tech economy is helping to develop and retain talent within our community."

At the seven colleges and universities, all of the scholarships will target students who plan to live and work in Northwest Florida upon graduation. Students pursing an IT or engineering degree who are interested in these scholarship opportunities should contact each college for specific program information and requirements.

Florida’s Great Northwest provides regional leadership in economic and workforce development, serving 16 counties in Northwest Florida from Pensacola through Tallahassee. Its primary mission is the creation of a diversified and sustainable economy in Northwest Florida that creates nationally and globally competitive advantages for the development of key industry clusters, increases the income and prosperity of workers and families and preserves the region’s vibrant quality of life.

Florida’s Great Northwest is the administrator and facilitating organization for the U.S. Department of Labor WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Grant. Florida’s Great Northwest’s WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative, funded in part through the U.S. Department of Labor, is designed to create high-wage, high-skill jobs within the region in the four target industries of Aviation, Aerospace, Defense and National Security; Health Sciences and Human Performance Enhancement; Renewable Energy and Environment; Transportation and Logistics Services; and the two strategic support industries of Information Technology Services and Research and Engineering.

Note: This program is funded through Florida's Great Northwest’s WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative which is funded in part through a U.S. Department of Labor Federal grant program and financed with Federal Funds.