On Dec. 9, the Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) in Jacksonville, FL announced a partnership with MRO distributor Interline Brands to benefit construction students.
Interline — No. 18 on Industrial Distribution's 2016 Big 50 List — has donated $100,000 to Duval Schools, which the district said will provide students at Asa Philip Randolph (APR) access to state-of-the-art career and technical books, new equipment, presentations from industry professionals on product development and opportunities to visit Interline's annual trade show.
"Since arriving to Jacksonville, there has been a resounding demand to expand skilled trade opportunities for our students, community and economy,” said DCPS Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti in a press release. "We are excited about Interline Brand’s partnership because it allows our vision for APR to be implemented with a faster pace of completion and deeper impact."
This isn't the first time Interline has provided this kind of aid. According to DCPS, Interline has invested in Career Academy students throughout the year by providing products, training and learning experiences. DCPS said Interline provided HVAC students with an air-conditioning unit that allowed students to practice repairs and experiment with techniques they learned in the classroom.
"Additionally, at the beginning of the school year, the company sent several students to their annual trade show where they met numerous distributors and toured the newest wholesale products from around the nation."
According to DCPS, APR’s Construction Academy encompasses welding, plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC. Level 1 industry certification is offered in plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC, and students also have the opportunity to earn their National Center for Construction Education and Research certifications.
"With the support of Interline Brands, Construction Academy students will continue to have a professional advantage as they gain workforce skills and certifications before they graduate high school," DCPS said.
See DCPS' Facebook announcement below: