Home to over 2,914 manufacturers employing close to 14,000 workers, manufacturing in Southwest Florida is alive and well. From power boats to cutting-edge medical devices and world-class chocolates, these dynamic businesses create value and jobs within the region. The manufacturing sector continues to attract investments and grow at an accelerated rate. And it shows no sig
n of slowing down
6.3%
Manufacturing is a very broad industry, with many niche markets within it, including medical, marine, signage, machining, pharmaceutical, and various specialty items. In interviewing over 40 manufacturers relating to skills gaps in the industry, every conversation fell back to a basic common denominator, foundational or soft skills.
Workplace factors are changing as the generations of employees change, and COVID accelerated that. Technology is accelerating at speeds we’ve never seen, yet many still rely heavily on human staffing.
Because of the various types of manufacturers, the core competencies and critical skills needed in their workforce differ. But with many, the answers related to basic skills. Over 80 percent of those surveyed confirmed that candidates lack enthusiasm, dedication, basic math and measuring skills, language skills, dexterity, knowledge of hand tools, critical thinking, the ability to troubleshoot, and using basic business software were all common answers based upon recent hiring history. Some did give specific manufacturing skills which were lacking: stainless TIG welding, writing code for processors and controllers, blueprint reading, machine programming, machine maintenance, and CNC set up. But why are employers more focused on basic employment skills rather than production-specific technical skills?
Currently less than 10 percent of applicants have the skills manufacturers desire, and as a result manufacturers are spending many hours training new hires extensively on basic skills.
In both the state and in our region, there are more unfilled career opportunities than job seekers. According to FutureMakers Coalition, only 42 percent of Southwest Florida adult-aged residents have credentials, certifications, or degrees above a high school diploma. Put those two statistics together, and employers are forced to hire at the entry level rather than mid- to upper-level positions. They are promoting within, but when they cannot, they are struggling to fill skilled positions.
The real root cause could be that most of our local high school talent, whether college bound or not, do not know of the 1,000+ manufacturers in the Southwest Florida region, so they go elsewhere or
into other industries. Throw in the lack of affordable housing, and the employee potentially has to travel an hour each way to work.
Manufacturers in SWFL constantly struggle with high turnover. Over 90 percent of those surveyed confirmed that the highest turnover is usually at the entry level positions such as general labor and assembly.
Adding it all up, the low number of applicants, plus applicants missing basic skills, plus 35 percent expected staffing growth, plus college educated talent going elsewhere, plus entry level high turnover, plus lack of housing, equals a huge challenge. This challenge is not just in the manufacturing sector, but also in healthcare, education and logistics.
The good news is that we have a collaborative effort in fixing the problem. Together with other FutureMakers Coalition partners, the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA), we are moving the needle from the current 42 percent to 55 percent by 2025. We are taking the data collected from our manufacturers and working with educational entities to create, expand and duplicate training programs to meet their needs. FutureMakers Navigators are finding people who started a path towards a degree, credential or certification, but did not finish. These are people who
Florida ranks among the nation’s top three states for manufacturing thanks to its pro-business policies, strong workforce and trade infrastructure. Florida’s manufacturers produce a variety of goods and the manufacturing workforce has grown substantially over the past 10 years.
In Lee County, there are more than 330 manufacturing firms, and the sector has grown at an accelerated rate. -Lee County reported 6,448 manufacturing jobs in 2018, and there are now 8,341; a growth rate of 29%. Additionally, the total number of jobs grew at a 14.7%, as manufacturing growth outpaced total business growth by 65%.
With an unemployment rate of 2.4% and increased demand for manufacturing jobs, Lee County’s training schools, technical colleges, community colleges and universities are working to support the development of the workforce by increasing the availability of programs offered. This includes micro-credentialling and cooperative access to apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Programs available through CareerSource of Southwest Florida help support and direct these efforts through employers.
pansion of existing firms. It is impressive that this all took place while experiencing the unprecedented impacts of a pandemic and a Category 5 hurricane. Examples of this growth includes a sampling of local success and instances of relocation and expansion.
In the spring of 2023, Tyber Medical announced a 33,000 square foot expansion, which will double its existing space and add 50 new jobs at its facility.
• Addman Engineering has just expanded and moved into its new 20,000 square foot building in ITEC Park. As a result, this 3-D printing firm will expand employment and establish a new R&D program.
• Sutumed Surgical Sutures from Peru established a location and is now expanding operations to separate the company into two divisions; one for human sutures and one for veterinary use.
PGT Innovations expanded into Lee County last year and now has 130,000 square feet of
space and employs over 230 people at its Meridian North facility.
• Advanced Hurricane Technologies relocated to Fort Myers and established its new headquarters and manufacturing facility, also in ITEC Park, and now has over 90 employees and 200,000 square feet of space.
There are many other manufacturing success stories to be told as Lee County continues to grow. Under the direction of the Lee Board of County Commissioners, the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO) will continue to support and recruit businesses as jobs are created and the economic impact grows. The EDO continues to work closely with other Lee County departments and partners such as the Southwest Florida Manufacturers Association, Florida Makes and the Horizon Council to ensure that manufacturing growth is supported.
Dana Brunett possesses over 30 years’ experience in economic development in New York and Florida, managing economic development organizations and small business lending programs. He is currently Business Development Director for the Lee County Economic Development Office. Contact him at (239) 533-6813 or dbrunett@leegov.com.
Collier County’s economy has grown stronger than ever over the past several years, experiencing significant growth in population and an upswing in new businesses. Just a few miles away from world renowned beaches and tourist hubs, Collier County has witnessed a surge in its manufacturing sector, a positive shift that has undoubtedly boosted the local economy.
Over the past year, there has been a 5.2% rise in the establishment of manufacturing entities, underling the growing business interest in the county. Alongside the increase in establishments there has been a steady growth in manufacturing employment as well. Between 2021 to 2022, job opportunities in this sector grew by 3.8%, a testament to the sector’s growing vitality in the region. Manufacturing collectively contributed $1.0 billion to our local economy in 2022, a $140.8 million increase from 2021. Across the board, manufacturing operations are increasing key metrics that gauge economic health including employment, capital investment, and wages.
As the industry grows, so does the need for a talented workforce. In order to support this growth, our community is working together by investing in workforce training initiatives, including Immokalee Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME). Serving as an extension campus of Immokalee
Technical College (iTech), CME is a collaborative training facility between Collier County Public Schools, the Naples Chamber of Commerce and local manufacturing leaders, preparing students to take on the demands of this industry and apply their certifications through CNC operations, advanced machining and manufacturing, machining mechatronics and so much more.
Given this favorable growth, there is a focus within the community on what the future of manufacturing might look like in Collier County. The County is actively promoting advanced manufacturing uses in the Golden Gate Economic Development Zone as well as the Innovation Activity Centre Overlay (at the intersection of the I-75 and Collier Boulevard roadways)., as the future advanced manufacturing hubs.
This will ensure that our community will have suitable space for existing and new manufactures to establish and scale their operations in Collier County so they can continue to drive economic growth,
At the Chamber, we work in concert with local government, educational institutions and other key
“Manufacturing collectively contributed $1.0 billion to our local economy in 2022, a $140.8 million increase from 2021.
Across the board, manufacturing operations are increasing key metrics that gauge economic health including employment, capital investment, and wages.
stakeholders to ensure that every business, including our manufactures, has the access to the resources that they need to grow and thrive here in Collier County.
Sloan Nagy joined the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce in June 2023. Prior, she served as an asset management associate at Brookfield Properties. As Director of Business and Economic Research at the Chamber of Commerce, she conducts business retention and expansion visits, heads economic research and analysis initiatives and coordinates with governmental, utility and not-for-profit organizations critical to economic growth marketing, services, or contacts. To contact her, email sloan@napleschamber.org
Immokalee Technical College is continually looking for ways to expand training and provide SWFL manufacturers with additional options to assist in training and retaining staff. In October of 2021 iTECH was awarded a $250,000 grant through the Collier Community Foundation to purchase three Robotic Arms from the industry leading Robotic Manufacturers, Fanuc, Universal Robot, and ABB. These three primary brands are the authority in providing innovative automation solutions across multiple industries, which is why it was essential to provide our students a comprehensive training experience to elevate their industry 4.0 skills and knowledge. This generous donation has also helped pave the way for the launch of a Registered Machining Apprenticeship program in September 2022, as well as preparing to add an Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship program this school year. Even with cutting-edge training equipment and a job-placement rate of 90% we still have difficulties maintaining a high enrollment rate when it comes to manufacturing programs. This occurs primarily because many
SWFL community members and students do not know the remarkable presence of the manufacturing industry that exists within our community. Yearly, millions of dollars’ worth of raw materials are transformed into goods and products for various industries and consumers. One of our main priorities is to help educate the public about these industries, the career opportunities within these industries, and how to gain the skills needed to be successful in the industry. iTECH remains engaged with local manufacturers as well as the Southwest Florida Regional Manufacturer Association to assist in advocating for careers in manufacturing. Addition-
ally, we provide out-reach to local High School students to (1) increase Dual Enrollment opportunities for students and (2) increasing awareness and recruitment for enrolling High School graduates into one of our full-time manufacturing programs after graduation.
Immokalee Technical College and iTECH CME, will continue to promote careers within the manufacturing sector, as well as look to expand program offerings to meet the demands of our local industry. Some future programs in the planning and development stages are Machine Repair, Advanced
Greater Naples Chamber brings you innovative member benefits and programs to keep your business thriving We're here to help you engage, influence, and make an impact with the support of a forward-thinking business community.
Traditionally known for its agricultural industry, it may surprise most to learn that there is an active and growing manufacturing community in Hendry County, producing a variety of products from food to space exploration.
Just south of Lake Okeechobee, Hendry County is located between Lee and Palm Beach Counties. Hendry is part of a Florida designated freight corridor. This area includes US Highway 27 through Florida’s Heartland area. The US 27 corridor allows for the movement of goods to and from south Florida and connects to two deep seaports. Additionally, Highway 27, connects to Highway 80, creating a connection into SWFL.
With south Florida populations quickly rising, businesses are looking for access to not only the south Florida population but internationally through one of the deep seaports located less than 100 miles away. Given the availability of land, the lower cost of doing business, and the growing need for products produced domestically, manufacturers especially have begun looking inland for land along the connecting corridors.
There is always a fear associated with establishing a new business in a rural community. Will there be enough workforce? Will there be adequate utili-
ties? Where will workforce live? For these reasons, Hendry County, its municipalities and partners are collaborating to address these questions and provide the resources manufacturers need to become successful.
In the eastern portion of the County, infrastructure is being extended from the City of Clewiston along Highway 27 and in the western section of the county, infrastructure is being extended from the City of LaBelle along the Highway 80 corridor towards the Hendry/Lee County line.
Workforce development programs are becoming more accessible to residents in Hendry through local and regional initiatives. The SWFL Equitable Jobs Pipeline managed by Florida Gulf Coast University and FutureMakers has resulted in numerous individuals returning to career training pathways in manufacturing and logistics. The funding they received from the US Economic Development Administration supports programs and students in the manufacturing and logistics industries.
The Hendry County Workforce Development and
Adult School’s welding program is led by an instructor with over 24 years’ experience in the field. Beginning this fall, they will be utilizing a plasma cutter, and 3-D printing in the class, along with other metal projects. In addition to skilled trades, their CDL school is producing graduates that will be able to support the movement of goods produced locally.
The school has also created a workforce advisory board. Included amongst the board’s members are local and regional industry leaders and students. The board is focused on aligning the educational offerings with the business community’s needs. This board also includes representatives from the Southwest Florida Manufacturers Association, SRMA, and organization dedicated to the manufacturing community.
With all the elements being put into place, we believe Hendry County’s manufacturing community will continue to grow and prosper.
Keitha Daniels is the Director for the Hendry County Economic Development Council. She has worked for the Board of County Commissioners over the past seven years with a focus in economic development. To contact her, email keitha@hendryedc.com
Our trade school programs provide a fast transition into a great career in Hendry County. If you are looking for a job upgrade, our adult school is for you!
We are a workforce trade school that focuses on helping adults transition into high-demand careers We provide industry-standard certifications and state of the art equipment so that our students are learning relevant and valuable skills for their industry We spare no expense in providing a truly hands-on experience We also help our students get scholarships to pay for their tuition We strive to cultivate a cohort culture of support and comradery to help our students transition into a successful long-term career
CareerSource SWFL continues to see growth in the Southwest Florida Region in regards to everything manufacturing!
If one has been in SW FL for any amount of time you can see that Manufacturing is popping up all over Southwest Florida. They are a combination of startups, manufacturers moving to this area or just growing out of their existing locations. If you are a manufacturer, We need to talk!
CareerSource Southwest Florida is a non-profit organization that services the Manufacturing industry and all its components in the 5-county area of SW FL. We are part of a statewide employment and training network. We connect manufacturers to qualified candidates and other resources like the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA). We have partners throughout the community to assist with anything Manufacturing including multi-county educational system that includes technical programs geared for the manufacturing industry.
We also fund Training. Can’t find qualified candidates? May I suggest building a bench of employees by hiring candidates that do not have all the skills for that position – CareerSource Southwest Florida may be able to offset a portion of the wages for each new
trainee for up to 6 months to a maximum of $7,000 per hire to offset the costs of training that individual. This will allow you to train the new hire the correct way and you are getting a diamond in the rough to shape the new employee.
We have other training programs – a young adult work experience program where the youth, ages of 16 to 24 years, is on our payroll for up to 2 months before you make a decision to hire. We have the same for the adult population for a candidate that is unsure if a career in manufacturing is right for them. We also can offer customized training to help a manufacturer up-skill their workforce to make them more productive and allow them to advance in their careers. CareerSource Southwest Florida will reimburse the manufacturer up to 50% of those training costs.
Other services include: helping with job descriptions, recruitment, applicant pre-screening. We can help promote hiring events, use CareerSource Southwest Florida’s 5 Centers for training or interviewing. We have access to the latest Labor Market information
for Manufacturers at our fingertips. Bringing or moving a new employee into the area, CareerSource Southwest Florida can assist the spouse/partner with career services to help with closing the offer and getting that new employee on board.
Did you need help with connecting with other community resources & partners? CareerSource Southwest Florida can assist, including introductions to Economic Development offices, Small Business Development Center, Banking/Loan needs, Human Resources needs, Insurance needs, Supply Chain needs to name a few of those resources.
Because each Manufacturer is different and each one has different needs CareerSource Southwest Florida customizes our relationships to meet those individual needs. So give us a call so we start a conversation on how CareerSource Southwest Florida can be of assistance to your manufacturing concern.
Bill Welch is the Business Services Director with CareerSource Southwest Florida with 20+ years of experience in staffing and consulting employment services in SWFL and assisting business grow in Southwest Florida. Contact Welch at (239) 931-8200, press 1 then ext. 1805 or wwelch@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com .
may have personal obstacles going back to school or gaining employment.
Our manufacturers are committing to using this system when needing employees, rather than posting opportunities on Indeed.com. This is a phenomenal investment in our community and is a win for everyone involved.
Manufacturers also have the opportunity to invest in their incumbent workforce by offering upskill training within the newly created resources. There are various apprenticeship programs they can participate in, offering a learning and financial growth path for newer employees and mentorships for their long-time superstars. Research shows that investing in people will yield a higher retainment of staff.
Emerging technologies such as robotics, automation, and AI may lead one to believe that entry-level skills and positions will be eliminated, but the opposite holds true. None of our survey participants said that current skill sets will go away in the future. Production workers will still be needed, but companies know that they must adapt to these new technologies, and our educational partners need to lead the way in training the workforce of the future. Larger manufacturers prefer on-site training, and smaller ones were more apt to send employees off-site for training, meaning hands-on and online train-
Emerging technologies such as robotics, automation, and AI may lead one to believe that entry-level skills and positions will be eliminated, but the opposite holds true. None of our survey participants said that current skill sets will go away in the future. Production workers will still be needed, but companies know that they must adapt to these new technologies.”
ing programs need to be offered. The SRMA is excited to be a part of the ecosystem required to make a difference. Going from 42 to 55 percent translates to thousands of lives positively impacted, improving the economic health of our region and making Southwest Florida a great place to live and work.
Glades County is a hidden gem in the Lake Okeechobee region. It is equidistant from Fort Myers on the Gulf coast and West Palm Beach on the Atlantic coast. Both urban areas are within an hour and a half drive. Miami is a two-hour drive and Central Florida (Tampa, Orlando) are less than three hours away. There is plenty of land for business opportunities in Glades County!
Located in Glades County, America’s Gateway Logistics Center, a 600+ acre mixed use industrial site on US 27, is an excellent site for refrigerated warehouses, an inland port, or a distribution center. The site has highway and rail access, with drive times to Central and South Florida under three hours or less.
Traditionally, manufacturing in Glades County has been centered on companies which have their roots in the predominantly agriculture-based economy. The state’s largest fertilizer company, Wedgworth’s Inc., expanded its operation to include a bagging factory at the Moore Haven plant,
where they custom blend fertilizer for clients.
Other manufacturers in Glades County include Scotts Miracle Gro in Palmdale; Quikcrete a mortar mixing and bagging plant in Ortona; Vulcan Materials, which produces sand for Florida golf courses as well as road and bridge projects; Oldcastle Greenleaf, a leading producer of mulch, and Cemex in Moore Haven, which produced the redi-mix for the Port Miami tunnel project.
As manufacturing continues to go high-tech, highspeed internet is essential for companies to operate. Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. (GEC) has partnered with Conexon to offer its entire service area affordable high speed broadband internet. Fiber has already been laid in communities like Montura and Ortona. Glades
County expects to have almost 100% high speed internet coverage by 2025.
iTECH Glades, operated by the Collier County School District, has expanded its programs to include HVAC and heavy equipment service technician courses and a welding course in the near future. The technical college is ready to work closely with area businesses to offer training that workers may be lacking.
With affordable real estate, an aggressive local option tax abatement and 12 percent overall operating cost savings compared to urban markets, Glades County is the logical choice for manufacturing and logistics operations to expand or relocate in the post-COVID economy.
Rosemary Fllori received her B.A. in political science from the University of Florida and was hired as the Executive Director of the Glades County Economic Development Council in September 2021. Contact her at rfllori@gladescountyedc.com or call (863) 946-0300.
The Florida Chamber Foundation states, “If Florida were a country, it would be rated the 15th largest in the Global Economy.” Additionally, Florida manufacturers represent the nation’s top 3 states for manufacturing, helping to fuel the State’s $1.12 Trillion economy. Florida’s manufacturing industry counts for nearly 20,000+ manufacturers who employ more than 380,000+ workers across the State. Being among the nation’s top producers of STEM graduates, many of these manufacturing operations have emerged because of the presence of advanced research facilities at Florida’s universities and colleges, military installations, and Florida’s space industry.
That said, in Charlotte County, FL. there are strong growth companies in manufacturing finding this Gulf Coast community and bringing along their new technologies like Lane Valente Industries - Renewable Energy, AM Testing - Lab, Coastal Water Filters, Vestas Aircoil – Aviation and Marine products, and Dakota Hardwoods - Construction Materials, to name a few. These businesses choose to be in the Charlotte County for one or more reasons such as its pro-business policy’s, strong workforce, great access to domestic and global markets, and quality
Manufacturing, and Mechatronics all of which will contain elements of robotics and automation ensuring further success and career advancement of our graduates. As community members of SWFL we charge you to further your education and examine the numerous career options within the field of manufacturing.
Aaron Paquette has served Collier County Public Schools for 18 years. In his current role as Assistant Director, Immokalee Technical College (iTECH), he helps to oversee the 19 different Career Certificate programs offered. He is also a board member of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association and a Work-Based Learning committee member for the Naples Chamber of Commerce. Contact him at (239)377-9902 or PaquetaA@collierschools.com.
of life.
With every good manufacturer you’ll also find distribution and warehousing to be an important element to their overall operation. The logistics / transportation industry is also booming in Charlotte County especially for powerhouse companies like Cheney Brothers Inc., Federal Express, and Equuis Partners who have collectively expanded their business footprint at the Charlotte County Airport Park to over 1 million square feet, adding hundreds of new wellpaying jobs in Charlotte County. In recent years, Cheney Brothers, Inc. was the first privately owned “high-tech” food distribution company to recognize Charlotte County as a great location for a distribution hub. Ideally posi
tioned within the Airport Park and Interstate 75 corridor, Cheney Brother’s truck drivers pick-up and deliver their customer’s goods during the day and are home for din
ner that same evening. Their business model continues
to be a popular one especially during the current times of recruiting and workforce challenges across the nation.
As the county moves in consort with Florida’s initiative to grow their manufacturing cluster, the Charlotte County Economic Development Office together with the Charlotte County Industrial Development Authority offer customized economic incentive packages and industrial revenue bonds for the recruitment of high-wage employment with value-added businesses.
The Charlotte County Economic Development Office encourages companies interested in locating to their Southwest Florida “hotspot” (where there is plenty of land yet to be developed) and consider using Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IDRBs) to help finance projects for manufacturing and industrial plants, aviation facilities, corporate headquarters, and health care businesses.
For more information about the benefits Charlotte County Florida can offer a manufacturing business, contact Kay Tracy, Business Recruitment Manager at: 941-7644944, or email Kay.Tracy@CharlotteCountyFL.Gov
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