The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is the prime contractor for the project. FSEC is the largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and energy efficiency research organization in the United States. FSEC is Florida’s energy research and education institute. FSEC’s mission is to research and develop renewable energy, energy-efficiency and alternative energy technologies that enhance Florida’s and the nation’s economy and environment.  There are five major program areas – photovoltaics, energy efficient buildings, hydrogen and fuel cells, solar thermal technologies, and education. 

Both the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and the State of Florida utilizes questions based on FSEC training manuals for NABCEP certification and the Florida solar contractor license. Continuing education programs at FSEC have encompassed solar water heating, photovoltaics, alternative fuels, photovoltaics for disaster relief, energy-efficient building design, energy rating, and education programs for teachers, students and the general public.

Brevard Community College (BCC) is a public two-year college established in 1960 and is located on the east central coast of Florida. BCC consists of four fully operational campuses in Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, and Palm Bay. The college enrolls on average 16,000 students in an array of programs that include: first 2 years of baccalaureate leading to an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees that parallel and transfer through articulation agreements to the state university system; specialties for the A.S. degree; Associate in Applied Science degree programs; and a diverse offering of certificates for post secondary adult vocational, and technical programs that lead industry recognized completion points. In addition, BCC has routinely led the state in dual enrolled high school students.

Broward Community College is the largest institution of higher education in Broward County, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area) and provides high quality, affordable higher education and technical and occupational training. Broward Community College is designed to be a community-based institution that offers a comprehensive range of programs responsive to changes in the community and in technology. In the past four decades, the college has approximately 55,000 students annually and has been nationally ranked among the top 15 community colleges in the number of associate degrees awarded and the number of minority graduates. A core mission of Broward Community College is to respond to community workforce needs. Collaboration with industry, government and affiliated educational institutions results in curriculum designed to prepare individuals for employment through a variety of specific programs in the general areas of business, management, and office systems, health sciences; engineering, construction, and mechanical technologies, computer technology; human and public services, natural and environmental resources, and aviation.

Tallahassee Community College (TCC) is an open admission, comprehensive 2-year institution of higher learning that serves over 25,000 students annually.  Founded in 1966, the institution has over 1,100 employees at six instructional sites in north Florida.  TCC’s budget for the current fiscal year is $110 million.

TCC is one of 28 members of the Florida Community College System and ranks:

• 1st in percentage of African American students with 33%
• 1st in enrollment growth
• 1st in transfer percent to the State University System with 78% transferring within one year of graduation. 

TCC’s passionate commitment to workforce development is realized by providing educational programs of the highest quality that prepare students for entrance into full-time employment in fields that meet the needs of employers.  TCC meets the needs of a diverse population with Associate degrees in 42 curriculum areas and 14 certificate programs in 16 vocational areas.  TCC provides workforce development training for over 10,000 individuals annually in collaboration with government, industry and other partners. Workforce training sponsors include 12 state and four federal agencies.   

Westside Tech is located in Winter Garden, Florida and is a dynamic and innovative technical center that primarily serves the west and northwest portions of Orange and adjacent Lake County (Orlando area). Westside Tech is the second largest of the four technical centers in the Orange County Public Schools, Department of Career and Technical Education. It offers over 25 full and part-time academic and technical programs.  In addition to these programs, a variety of classes are offered evenings at Westside and the four adult community centers it administers.  Students can receive high school credits and certificates of completion for courses taken at Westside. Westside Tech, in partnership with its vocational/technical program advisory committees, develops and provides competency-based training to its students.  In addition to ensuring that programs are based on competencies that prepare students to attain employment, business and industry members play an active role in providing externship and training opportunities.

The Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc. (BWDB) is a not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrative entity and grant recipient for workforce investment programs in Brevard County, Florida (Rockledge, FL). As such, BWDB oversees the planning and implementation of a variety of workforce programs.  BWDB focuses on improving the quality of the Brevard County workforce, reducing welfare dependency, and enhancing workforce productivity and competitiveness. Its mission is to “Facilitate and be the catalyst for workforce development services that are responsive to the employment needs of Brevard County.”  Key populations served include unemployed adults, employed adults and youths earning insufficient wages, and youths entering the workforce for the first time. Additionally, employers are served by focusing on services such as recruiting, employed worker training and employee referral and screening.

The Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc. is also engaged in transitioning aerospace workers from the current NASA Shuttle program to the new aerospace program, Constellation.  This transition will mean a loss of about 3,000 jobs in the aerospace industry with highly skilled workers feeling this impact.  The work of the Banner Center will dovetail with BWDB’s efforts to develop training that is capable of providing job potential for these skilled workers within Brevard and Florida over the next two to four years. As such, BWDB will help to engage students from the current aerospace workforce for the ongoing sustainability of this program.

Florida Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation (FlaSEREF) is a foundation established in 1995 by the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA).  Their aim was to further the development and use of solar energy in Florida.  Under a grant from the Florida Energy Office, the Foundation extends a host of programs to both public and private organizations demonstrating the benefits of using solar technologies in a wide-range of applications.  One of the objectives of the organization is to help strengthen the Florida solar energy industry by making professional development as well as basic training opportunities available to them and their employees, and to allied trades as well.