We’re excited to announce the creation of the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC). As plans are finalized for this precedent setting space, look for news and updates here, and for ways you can be involved, as a business or academic partner.
The mission of the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center is three-fold:
- To provide a training and talent pipeline for Science, Technology and Manufacturing careers in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions.
- To inspire young people to become STEM, Manufacturing and Industry leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor based, diverse and inclusive programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership,
- To act as the headquarters for a Central Florida FIRST Hub.
Benefits
FIRST Students touring HAAS Showroom in Tampa
The Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center will benefit the immediate community by providing STEAM Education Excellence and Workforce Readiness through:
- Manufacturing training and solutions access and resources
- Improved STEM and STEAM education accessibility, inclusion and impact for area youth
- Practice and meeting space for FIRST robotics teams
- Public events, workshops and classes related to science, technology, and manufacturing
- Career and skilled technical education with certification opportunities in programming & manufacturing related fields
- Internship and employee pool of well-educated, experienced and trained youth & young adults
Resources
The Manufacturing & Robotics Center is a collaborative, cross program effort of several cooperative organizations and academic institutions, seeded by an Argosy Foundation grant, and developed in close partnership between the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FCDI), a member of the ARM Institute, AMRoC will include:
- Industry standard manufacturing equipment, including CNC, milling, lathes, drill presses, etc.
- A full scale permanent FIRST Robotics Competition field for high school level, FIRST Tech Challenge field, for middle and high school programs and FIRST LEGO League playing tables for elementary and middle school programs
- Hardware and software to support K-12 STEAM education through:
- Professional Development for educators including Curriculum and Standards Alignment resources, training in Diversity and Inclusion in science, technology, and manufacturing education and more
- Programming, design and engineering classes and training for youth
- Kit and parts loans for teams and classrooms
Why We Need the Tampa Bay Manufacturing & Robotics Center
According to the 2016 Tampa Bay Gap Analysis, there are nearly 5,000 manufacturers representing more than 61,000 employees in Tampa Bay, with a total income contribution of almost $9 billion to the local economy. Each manufacturing job created results in an additional 2.65 jobs, according to an economic impact analysis from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. To support the projected increase in output, the number of local manufacturing jobs is expected to slightly outpace national manufacturing employment (5.3% compared to 5%) through 2024 per EMSI. Manufacturing technicians are among the most highly sought after employees in the manufacturing community. The Gap Analysis identified three main areas that need improvement to continue supporting this vital economic sector:
- The lack of interest in manufacturing that is causing a shortage of skilled workers.
- Potential workers lack knowledge of industry.
- A greater connection between industry and education.
Since FIRST is a proven K-12 STEM education and workforce readiness program, with nearly 30 years of proven results, it is the first choice program to complement the Manufacturing and Robotics Center programming.
Follow this website and related social media to learn more, and help us Build the Future!