Bluemanta Technology Group Awarded Incumbent Worker Training Grant

Bluemanta Technology Group in partnership with the Gulf Coast Workforce Board was selected to receive an Incumbent Worker Training grant from Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW).  Approximately $7,500 of the grant award will go to fund training for existing workers at Bluemanta Technology Group, an information technology business located in Port St. Joe, Florida.   The grant award marks the first time this type of funding has been awarded to a business from a rural county. 

In addition to the grant award, Bluemanta plans on investing $22,000 of its own funds toward training.  Training funded under the grant will result in industry recognized certifications from Cisco and Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) for advanced network engineering, information security, and project management.

Bluemanta Technology Group was one of five local businesses who collaborated with the Gulf Coast Workforce Board on the Incumbent Worker Training Grant.  Overall, the grant is designed to encourage employee retention and advancement in two of the region’s targeted industries -Information Technology and Renewable Energy. 

“Training and upgrading the skills of our workers is vital to growing our local businesses and key for businesses in Informational Technology who are challenged to keep pace with changes and advancements in field,” said Kim Bodine, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board.

The Incumbent Worker Training grant was funded by Florida’s Great Northwest, a 16 county regional economic development organization.  In total, Florida’s Great Northwest is investing $550,000 under its Incumbent Worker Training program in 14 companies and training partnerships throughout Northwest Florida.

“Florida’s Great Northwest is delighted to support these training initiatives which will benefit the companies and the employees,” said Al Wenstrand, President of Florida’s Great Northwest.  “The Incumbent Worker Training program allows companies to offer training to existing employees at a time when professional development budgets are being cut.  Providing workers with educational opportunities increases employee retention and advancement opportunities and improves the quality of Northwest Florida’s workforce.”