Advanced Manufacturing in Charlotte County Moves Forward With New Workforce Training Center
June 24th, 2026
Charlotte County is not just talking about the future of work. We are helping build it.
Mark Odell, business retention and expansion manager, and Kristy Sisler, business recruitment manager, represented the Charlotte County Economic Development Office at the groundbreaking for the Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, a new workforce training facility designed to connect students, adult learners, and local employers to high-demand technical careers.
The groundbreaking marks an important step for workforce development in Charlotte County. It also sends a clear message to manufacturers, aviation-related companies, site selectors, and regional employers: Charlotte County is investing in the talent pipeline that business growth requires.
The new center, led by Charlotte County Public Schools and Charlotte Technical College, is expected to support training in advanced manufacturing, CNC, welding, aerospace, and other technical fields. According to Charlotte County Public Schools, the project is designed to deliver hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials for students and adult learners, while supporting the region’s growing industrial sector.
Why Advanced Manufacturing Matters in Charlotte County
Advanced manufacturing is not the old image of factory work. Today’s manufacturing careers involve technology, precision, problem-solving, automation, aviation, machining, fabrication, and skilled trades. These are the kinds of jobs that support families, strengthen local employers, and create long-term economic opportunity.
For Charlotte County, this matters because workforce is one of the first questions businesses ask when they consider where to grow.
- Can they hire skilled people?
- Can they train new workers locally?
- Can they partner with schools and technical programs?
- Can their future employees afford to live and work here?
The Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center helps answer those questions.
The facility will be located within the Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park at Punta Gorda Airport, placing training close to aviation, logistics, and industrial employers. That location is strategic. It connects education directly to the types of businesses Charlotte County is working to support and attract.
A Stronger Pipeline From Classroom to Career
One of the most valuable parts of this project is the connection between education and real employer demand.
The WENG article covering the groundbreaking noted that the center is expected to include equipment and training for advanced manufacturing, CNC, and welding programs through Charlotte Technical College. It also highlighted Mark Odell’s point that the region faces a shortage of skilled trades workers across welding, technical fields, drafting, and related areas.
That is the economic development story.
A training center like this is not just a school building. It is infrastructure for business growth.
It gives students a clearer path into skilled careers; It gives adult learners a way to retrain or advance; It gives employers a stronger local talent pool. And it gives Charlotte County another advantage when competing for projects in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, aviation support, and industrial operations.
Nationally, manufacturers continue to identify workforce as a major challenge. The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte projected that the U.S. manufacturing industry could need as many as 3.8 million additional employees between 2024 and 2033, with about 1.9 million roles at risk of going unfilled if skills and applicant gaps are not addressed.
Charlotte County is responding to that challenge locally.
Building the Future Here
The state approved $1.75 million in funding to support the Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, with Charlotte County Public Schools describing the project as a regional hub for aerospace and advanced manufacturing training. The EDO previously highlighted that the center will serve both high school students and adult learners and support hands-on training aligned with industry needs.
This is exactly the kind of alignment that strengthens economic development in Charlotte County.
When workforce training, education, business retention, business recruitment, and industry partnerships move in the same direction, the entire community benefits. Local residents gain access to better career pathways. Existing businesses gain support for hiring and expansion. New companies see that Charlotte County is serious about long-term workforce readiness.
The groundbreaking is a milestone, but the bigger story is momentum.
Advanced manufacturing in Charlotte County is growing because the community is building the systems to support it. From Charlotte Technical College to Punta Gorda Airport, from local employers to career and technical education programs, Charlotte County is creating a stronger connection between talent, training, and opportunity.
- For businesses looking at Southwest Florida, that connection matters.
- For students and career changers, it opens doors.
- For Charlotte County, it strengthens the foundation for future growth.
The dirt has officially turned. Now the pipeline gets stronger.
