Walmart opens first Florida training academy in region

PASCO COUNTY — Walmart on Tuesday opened its first Florida training academy at 12610 U.S. Highway 19, Hudson — one of only 200 such centers planned nationwide.

The Arkansas-based discount retailer plans to train 140,000 of its associates in such academies annually. Each academy will be housed in, or adjacent to, a Walmart Supercenter, the company says in a statement.

Store associates and department managers will receive two weeks of dedicated training at the academies, aimed at boosting retail skill sets and improving sales. Associates will train from 25 nearby stores at each academy.