SPRING HILL – On September 24, Pasco-Hernando State College announced the Grand Opening of the Workforce Development Center located at Gowers Corner, which is situated at 18950 Michigan Lane, Spring Hill, Florida, 34610.
The county-spanning college’s development program “touches on a wide variety of skills and knowledge, providing students with opportunities to further their professional careers and goals,” noted a statement from Courtney Boettcher, PHSC’s Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.
This one-of-a-kind learning center, which will look to assist students in becoming skilled professionals in the construction industry in Hernando and Pasco counties, is an investment into the industry as well as in local apprentices who want to change their lives for the better.
“Our goal is to give the students the knowledge, job experience and skills that they can use for the rest of their lives,” said Sean Kessler, instructor for the construction technician apprenticeship program. “If we’ve given them this foundation to build themselves up on, then we’ve done our job.”
The state college requests that prospective attendees register for the center’s grand opening celebration by 4:00 PM on October 7, 2024. The reception for the celebration is set to take place a day later on October 8 at 9:00 AM with the ceremony scheduled for 15 minutes later.
“The future of workforce training centers on a more robust partnership between educational providers and industry than has been the case” stated PHSC President Jesse Pisors, Ed.D. “The PHSC Workforce Development Center at Gowers Corner illustrates this trend as the college and industry partners work closely together to prepare individuals for well-paying careers in high-demand industries.”
The announcement of this event follows other recent revelations from the school and state legislators regarding the concept of close relationships between institutes and industry partners assisting prospective employees. As the Sun had reported previously, there are several such projects in various stages of completion.
President Pisors and the District Board of Trustees are also discussing the building of at least one Welcome Center on the West Campus to help students with admissions, registration, and other such aspects of the student experience. More may come one day, but the board is in talks for one as of now. The state also appropriated $1.5 million for the establishment of a new Nursing and Allied Health Advancement Institute at PHSC in July.
Industry is preparing to take off in the county. At the soon-to-be-completed Wilton Simpson Technical College, which broke ground in August of 2023, a “Space Hub” incubation center is looking to be built. Following a request for $3.5 million in funding by Congressman Gus Bilirakis on May 17, the educational program looks to help innovation and commercialization of space-based technologies.
Additional information and registration for October’s grand opening of the Workforce Development Center can be found at the college’s website at phsc.edu/about/events/campus/workforce-development-center-grand-opening. A form can be submitted through this page and an interactive map can subsequently be found to help direct the public to the event.
