Manatee Technical College, Bradenton Area EDC partner for talent pipeline success

When Manatee Technical College announced in January another record-setting number of graduates from its diverse programs, we weren’t surprised. MTC’s growth through programs targeted to the needs of local employers has been a strategic and tactical success.

MTC has two campuses in the School District of Manatee County and offers over 50 career preparation programs, continuing education and adult general education. MTC’s mission is to produce highly skilled individuals and resourceful leaders through collaborative education to meet the ever-changing needs of our communities and the workforce.

That mission is vital to the work we perform at the Bradenton Area EDC. Our collaborative partnership with MTC is a prime example of how the EDC fosters programs and initiatives that support local established businesses and that attract high-wage jobs to Manatee County. The EDC is recognized by the State of Florida as the lead economic development organization for the Bradenton area’s nine communities. We have forged and followed a strategy based on solid research, creative ideas and collaborative partnerships.

For instance, MTC is a key partner in providing skills training for the manufacturing sector in our region. Manatee County is home to hundreds of manufacturers, along with the services and suppliers they need to flourish. Some of the employees needed to fill those high-skill, high-wage jobs come through the programs at MTC.

At the EDC, our team stays tuned in to the needs of employers that are new to the area and that are growing here. Many times, we connect those employers to educational institutions in the region, including MTC, to customize training programs and help generate a pipeline of talent for job openings.

Our collaboration with MTC is fostered by frequent communication and interaction between MTC’s team and ours. An EDC team member serves on the college’s Board of Governors, which advises on MTC’s programs. Additionally, MTC’s director serves on the EDC’s board and actively participates in our Workforce Development Committee, which seeks to enhance communication between education and business.

MTC also participates in the Bradenton area’s aviation ecosystem task force, led by the EDC. This collaboration between educational institutions and business is addressing challenges and opportunities to successfully develop the aviation sector.

Currently, MTC is taking the lead on establishing a maintenance training facility for the aviation sector at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The facility, to be located on the airfield, will train students for key roles in airframe and powerplant maintenance.

As part of our work to develop an aviation ecosystem to support this growing industry in Manatee County, the EDC assisted the school district with identifying a key funding source for the training facility, which is in the final design stage for two separate projects. They are the MTC Aviation Classroom and Laboratory, with an estimated cost of $8 million, and the MTC Aviation Hanger, with an estimated cost of $2.7 million. The facility is projected to open in August 2026 for the fall semester.

This aviation training facility is a major draw for aviation-related companies interested in having a Florida location. Aircraft manufacturers Pilatus, from Switzerland, and Elixir, from France, announced plans in 2024 to locate at SRQ.

Jason Wysong, superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, summarizes our relationship this way: “The Bradenton Area EDC is a key partner supporting the school district to create, maintain and refresh skills training programs that are relevant and add value to employers in Manatee County. By providing impactful insights into the skills and talents employers need, and by alerting us to funding opportunities, the EDC demonstrates a deep understanding that effective collaboration benefits our students, schools, employers and community.”

To learn more about the EDC’s collaborative partnerships and community impact, visit www.BradentonAreaEDC.com and follow us on social media. We also invite the public to register for our 2025 Economic Forecast Breakfast featuring economist Sean Snaith on Wednesday, March 12. Details are on our website.