TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s state colleges, manufacturers, and regional workforce boards are teaming up to join Floridians with great careers in the advanced manufacturing industry. The Florida Manufacturing Career Fair, being held at 26 locations across the state today, will feature local manufacturers who are hiring in their communities.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “Since December 2010, Florida’s manufacturing industry has added nearly 23,000 jobs as this administration has worked to implement policies that will grow these high-wage, high-skill jobs. We are pleased to see this partnership today among employers, colleges, and the CareerSource Florida network to highlight the opportunities available in this growing field.”

Partners in today’s career fair across the state include the Manufacturers Association of Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity,  the Florida TRADE Consortium - a coalition of 13 state and community colleges, and members of the CareerSource Florida network at the state and local levels to link manufacturers who have job openings with qualified candidates.

“Advanced Manufacturing is an important industry targeted for future growth in Florida,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Chris Hart IV. “CareerSource Florida is a proud partner in this collaborative effort to help Florida’s manufacturers expand and compete, and Floridians secure rewarding, well-paying careers.”

The Florida Manufacturing Career Fair is a component of the “Drive to 1,000,” a Florida TRADE Consortium initiative to place 1,000 Florida TRADE students into manufacturing jobs over the next year. The career fair is open to all and may provide opportunities to anyone interested in a hands-on, high-tech career.

Use the hashtag #FLManufacturingCareers on Twitter. For more information about the Florida Manufacturing Career Fair including locations, dates, and times, please visit www.mafmfg.com. For information about the Florida TRADE Consortium, visit www.fltrade.org.