Press Releases
Local Manufacturer Expanding in Indian River County
October 30, 2020
PCP Tactical LLC, a manufacturing firm located in Gifford, is expanding its current operations in Indian River County. PCP Tactical is a defense contractor founded in 2010, specializing in lightweight small-arms ammunition design and manufacturing. The company is planning to construct a 30,000sf facility in Gifford, doubling its current employment by adding 22 new jobs with wages that pay more than 115% of the county’s average annual wage, and estimates a capital investment of $4- million.
Manufacturing on the Treasure Coast Podcast
June 22, 2020
Treasure Coast Manufacturers Association President Jerry Jacques, GM at Advanced Machine and Tool, Inc and Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County President Pete Tesch podcast interviewed by Ellen Contreras, Treasure Coast Connector, talk about opportunities for careers in manufacturing.

Phoenix Metal Products, Inc. Ribbon Cutting & Open House
December 03, 2019
The ribbon cutting ceremony at Treasure Coast International Airport featured speakers U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, St. Lucie County Commission Chair Cathy Townsend, County Administrator Howard Tipton, Phoenix Metals President Brooks Price and Vice President Bill Wilcox.

October 03, 2019
TCMA partnered with CareerSource Research Coast at the October 3rd State-of-Jobs Conference held at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center. During the half-day conference, nearly 600 high school juniors and seniors from Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties explored career pathways in six high-demand industries: manufacturing, skilled trades, healthcare, hospitality, art and design, business and financial services. To read more...

School Counselors Visit Industry Partners
September 18, 2019
In partnership with the Economic Development Council, St. Lucie Public Schools toured the facilities of their local industry partners. Up to 30 School counselors, graduation coaches, Career Technical education teachers, and District support staff were provided an inside look at each business, complete with production capabilities and needs. In an effort to reduce the Skills Gap, the tour provides counselors an understanding of the needs of the industry Partners concerning employment. St. Lucie Public Schools counselors and teachers can identify students that fill those needs. St. Lucie Public Schools is making students college and career-ready, successful, and filling the pipelines to ensure that students are on the correct Pathway to success.
Ready-to-Work Boot Camp in St. Lucie
June 07, 2019
In its second year, St. Lucie County boot camp participants graduated June 7. Twenty-three young people participated in manufacturing or skilled trades programs, learning soft skills and about career opportunities at 15 local businesses. The boot camp was held in partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools, TCMA, EDC and TCBA.

First IRC Manufacturing Boot Camp a Success!
May 15, 2019
The Chamber’s Economic Development Office is proud to announce the success of the first Manufacturing Boot Camp in Indian River County.
The program introduced eight recently-graduated high school seniors to the manufacturing industry, providing them an opportunity to explore potential careers in this industry sector or decide to pursue a college degree. During the week-long program, the students toured ten companies, asking questions of owners and facility managers about the skills needed, entry-level pay scales and job responsibilities.
The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Office has implemented a Manufacturing Boot Camp program for high school seniors, replicating a successful program in neighboring St. Lucie County. The program is designed to provide students an alternative career path, especially for those who are not college-bound, while strengthening the local talent pipeline.

A five-day Ready to Work Manufacturing Boot Camp was designed to prepare high school graduates for immediate high-demand careers. Students, were hand-selected by their school guidance counselors, visited Silver-Line Plastics, Southern Eagle Distributing, Phoenix Metal Products, Walmart Distribution Center and Pursuit Boats.
The boot camp arose out of the St. Lucie EDC's 2017 Skills Gap Initiative and the Workforce Readiness Task Force, which works to bridge the gap between the region's current workforce skills and those that will be needed by area employers in the future.
Florida's Online Global Program
July 09, 2018
Learn how to leverage your online presence to increase your brand awareness, visibility, and sales in your international target markets. IBT Partners teamed up with Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) to provide a program that will deliver websites for any international market, backed by an EFI Grant.
For more information: ibtpartners.com/florida
Go Global with Website Localization and Social Media Marketing - July 23 - 27, 2018 - Miami | Ft. Lauderdale | Tampa | Orlando | Jacksonville | Pensacola
2018 Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards
June 05, 2018
Fort Pierce manufacturer, Advanced Machine & Tool Inc. named one of six Florida companies to receive statewide recognition as the 2018 winners of the second annual Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards. The awards, recognizing high performing manufacturers in six categories, were announced and presented June 1 at the Governor's Sterling Awards Banquet in Orlando.

Signing Day: Career Edition
June 04, 2018
Student athletes have signing days, now St. Lucie County students seeking careers in manufacturing, trade and distribution have one too.
On June 15, 22 recent graduates of St. Lucie Public Schools will celebrate their completion of the county’s first Ready to Work Manufacturing Boot Camp with an opportunity to sign on as employees with local manufacturing, trade and distribution companies.
April 18, 2018
This summer, 30 Treasure Coast residents will be the very first in the State of Florida to learn a skilled trade while earning money through a dynamic, fast-track comprehensive manufacturing apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship is a combination of paid on-the-job learning and related classroom instruction.
March 27, 2018
Treasure Coast based manufacturers dominated this year’s South Florida Manufacturer’s Association (SFMA) Manufacturer of the Year Awards, presented this month at the organization’s 39th annual recognition event. Five of the 18 finalists and three of the eight award winners were Treasure Coast companies.

August 02, 2017
Dignitaries from across the region helped the Treasure Coast Manufacturers Association mark its first anniversary at the organization’s annual meeting on August 2, including U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, keynote speaker.