Release: q1 Report to Florida Commerce

Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council: Q1 2025 Highlights 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025 - This report from the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council (FCMEC) details their progress and activities from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025, in advancing the concrete masonry industry in Florida.


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Key highlights include:
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• Block Strong Campaign: The campaign continues to educate the public on the benefits of concrete block construction, particularly its resilience to severe weather. The website, blockstrong.com, saw 345,000 visitors in Q1 2025, with "Storm Resistant" being the most visited page. Digital marketing efforts emphasized video content and print placements in industry publications.
• Florida Masonry (FM) Activities: FM focused on strengthening the masonry workforce. They hosted certification workshops and "lunch and learns," resulting in 34,866 CEU hours awarded. They are actively recruiting new contractor members and developing pre-apprenticeship programs with a focus on high school students and adult job seekers. FM is also planning for the Construction Ready Career Expo and SkillsUSA competitions to increase awareness of masonry careers.
• NCCER Curriculum: Full implementation of the new NCCER curriculum is pending the availability of updated course books, expected mid-summer 2025.
• Foundations for Life (F4L) Grant: This grant, which concluded on December 31, 2024, served 200 incarcerated individuals, with 51% securing unsubsidized employment and a recidivism rate of 6%, outperforming the grant goal. The Council is working with the USDOL to formally close out the grant.
• National Checkoff Program: The FCMEC Board of Directors is engaged in discussions regarding the National Checkoff Program and plans to maintain the Florida State Checkoff Program until adequate national funding is secured.

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