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Regional Manufacturing Associations (RMAs) Large and small industries are wise to take advantage of these valuable partners in their local area. Representatives attend FLATE’s ET Forums, serve on FLATE industry and ET degree advisory committees, are active in forging partnerships with local schools for tours, presentations, and outreach activities that help develop a positive image of man- ufacturing. FLATE supports RMA outreach efforts, and provided each RMA with a com- plete outreach packet of print and virtual resources in 2012. STEMflorida http://www.stemflorida.net/ In June 2009, Workforce Florida and Enterprise Florida announced plans to create a statewide council to strengthen the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills of Florida’s students as a way to address the increasing demand for jobs requiring strong foundations in these areas. STEMflorida offers a resource-dense website and pro- motes STEM education statewide. FLATE participates in STEMflorida initiatives and FLATE’s industry-connected curriculum won STEMflorida’s 2011 Best Practice Award for Excellence Integrating Needs of STEM-Enabled Programs into Engaging Curriculum and Educational Outreach Resources. Workforce Florida http://www.workforceflorida.com/ Workforce Florida is the statewide, business-led workforce policy board charged with over- seeing the state’s workforce system. It develops strategies and resources to help Floridi- ans enter and advance in the workforce while supporting economic development and the state’s business climate. Critical to their work is ensuring that Florida is preparing for, and responding to, current and future talent needs. Workforce Florida representatives serve on FLATE’s National Visiting Committee, and help FLATE target workforce data that supports our mission to enhance tomorrow’s workforce talent needs. Vendors as Partners “Relevant, practical, hands-on, real-life lessons” are what manufacturers repeatedly say is what they are looking for from the classroom experience. FLATE maintains a close rela- tionship with vendors of technical education and industrial equipment, software packag- es, books and other resources. Bringing vendors “into the loop” is another effective way to give students a “big picture” of the manufacturing industry. 20