Funding Available
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $3.9 million grant to the University of West Florida and Chipola College to provide education, training and job placement assistance to meet the demand for high-skill workers in Northwest Florida. UWF is one of only six universities in the United States that received H-1B awards in April 2012. The federal grant funds originate from fees paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B program. The project, Florida Hire Ed, allows UWF and Chipola College to enhance or increase the employment prospects for
(1) Unemployed or dislocated workers
(2) Veterans
(3) Women and minorities
(4) Low-income or under-employed individuals.

Employment Prospects for IT Professionals
Nationwide, employment of computer support specialists is expected to increase by 13 percent from 2006 to 2016. Demand for these pros will result as organizations and individuals continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technology. Job growth will continue to be driven by the ongoing expansion of the computer system design and cyber security, which is projected to remain one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. economy.