Monterey Boats receives $250,000 grant
WILLISTON, Fla. – As part of an effort to assist Monterey Boats with an expansion of its manufacturing facility in rural Levy County, Fla., a group of organizations in the area worked together to obtain a Quick Response Training grant from the State Workforce Board in the amount of $249,186, the company reported recently.
CLM Workforce Connection, Central Florida Community College and the Nature Coast Business Development Council have collaborated to obtain the grant.
Monterey Boats is one of the largest private employers in Levy County. The planned expansion will have a significant impact on the local economy through the addition of 75-80 employees to the company’s payroll. New positions at Monterey Boats will include assemblers, laminators and assembly support personnel.
The training program supported through this grant is designed to teach new employees the core skills required in the fiberglass boat manufacturing process. Monterey Boats and CFCC are customizing this training, as it is not available locally at this time.
“The purpose of this training program is to provide new employees with the skills and experience to function as an efficient and effective member of the production staff,” said Michael Biskie, HR director for Monterey Boats. “These team members will be capable of producing high quality fiberglass boats upon completion of the training.”
“Preparing and administering Quick Response Grants is another way the college works with employers in training skilled workers,” said CFCC president Charles R. Dassance. “CFCC is pleased to be a partner in this collaborative effort to assist a major manufacturer in training and expanding its workforce.”
The timing of the workforce expansion will offer opportunities to hire semi-skilled workers from areas where the boat building industry has been adversely affected by the recent hurricanes in Florida.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
