Miami, Feb. 11, 2022 – In an effort to further cement itself as Miami’s economic and workforce engine, Miami Dade College (MDC) joined forces with Mayor Suarez to reshape the educational landscape in our community. In partnership with the City of Miami, the new initiative will be announced Tuesday, February 15, at 11 a.m., at the Wolfson Campus, Room 2106.
Together, the City and College will implement a workforce strategy ensuring local tech talent is grown, recruited and thoroughly prepared to meet the needs of the expanding tech industry in Miami.
Combining the City’s initiative to create a robust charter school network with MDC’s established record as a signature workforce education and development partner, a “Tech Industry High School” will be created that builds on many decades of proven strategies and the College’s renowned dual enrollment offerings.
City and College leaders believe the development of an intentional and strong tech talent pipeline will serve the best interests of the residents of Greater Miami. Both partners are committed to providing new and expanded opportunities that prepare local youth for high paying careers in tech and innovation. This announcement comes on the heels of Governor DeSantis’ investment of over $89 million dollars in workforce education, $2 million of which is earmarked for MDC for this purpose.
“In the past year, with the support of Miami and global partners, MDC has launched several groundbreaking initiatives to close the opportunity and digital divides, while fueling tech talent,” said MDC’s President Madeline Pumariega. “This is all part of the larger vision of the Board of Trustees and leadership to position Miami and the College at the forefront of workforce development and the provision of diverse talent in emerging industries. Our mission is to empower students with a pathway to economic mobility while helping Miami grow its tech ecosystem.”
“One of the fundamental bases of the Miami movement is to invest in the education of our own residents to prepare them for the economic future of the city and establish a workforce that can compete for the high paying jobs the city is attracting. That’s why launching a network of charter schools has been a priority for my administration,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “Considering Miami Dade College’s status as a national model of excellence and innovation, partnering with MDC for the initial launch of our schools was a natural first step—and there’s nowhere more appropriate for our inaugural launch than downtown Miami.”
Additional details will be announced at the news conference Feb. 15.