U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) will hold a Tech Training & Jobs InfoSession on Monday, August 28, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Robert Saunders Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa, where numerous local organizations that offer technical and vocational training programs will showcase opportunities to help workers land our region's higher-paying jobs. The event is free and open to the public.

“I am focused on connecting our neighbors to better jobs and better wages, so I am working to help identify opportunities that lead to higher-paying jobs,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “I want to ensure that Tampa families ‎are able to get on the ladder of success – better jobs, better wages and a better future. Local employers are looking to hire so I am helping match our neighbors with the skills training track to the growing job sectors in Florida, such as information technology and manufacturing. This event is an excellent time for our neighbors to connect with technical training opportunities to help them gain the skills needed for good-paying jobs of the future.”

For instance, the number of jobs in Florida’s manufacturing sector which typically has higher paying jobs with benefits grew more than 15 percent over the past five years to 368,400 in 2017, a faster growth than in other sectors. For others, pathways to higher-paying jobs could mean gaining the licensing needed to open a small business, such as a home daycare, or increasing skills in information technology.

Event participants include: CareerSource Tampa Bay, Enterprising Latinas, Hillsborough Community College, Hillsborough County Public Libraries, Hillsborough Technical Colleges, Lutheran Services and TechHire.

U.S. Rep. Castor has been a long-time champion of increasing technical and vocational training opportunities in Tampa Bay, including helping to secure numerous federal grants for Hillsborough Community College and most recently, a TechHire Grant of $3.8 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to develop tech talent and create the jobs of the future tied to the Tampa Innovation Alliance and surrounding businesses. This Congress, U.S. Rep. Castor is a cosponsor of H.R. 1050, the Youth Access to American Jobs Act, which would promote public-private partnerships among apprenticeships or other job training programs, local educational agencies and community colleges.

“Through apprenticeships, learning programs and job training, our region’s employers could be infused with homegrown talent. I am proud to bring together so many local hardworking organizations that are helping to lift families and communities by addressing our skills gap and helping our neighbors land higher-paying jobs.”

For more information, please call the Office of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor at 813-871-2817 or visit www.castor.house.gov.

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