The #1 Resource for Manufacturers in South Florida

Member Benefits

Why join the SFMA?

SFMA is the only resource for manufacturers in South Florida saving its members time and money through Workforce Development, Advocacy and Networking.  Why waste time and money when you can make one call to an association that truly works for you?

• Workforce Development - Finding a qualified workforce is always a challenge for manufacturers here in South Florida.  SFMA helps members by providing the following services:
• 1. Training and Implementation - The SFMA Manufacturers Training Institute (MTI) specializes in the development and delivery of technical and employability skills training offering onsite and open enrollment classes. 
  2. Grant Assistance - SFMA assists members in procuring grant dollars to offset training costs.  In one year alone, it helped members obtain more than $500,000 in grant dollars.
  3. SFMA JobBank - The JobBank allows members to post job openings and view resumes at no additional cost, plus all jobs posted in the SFMA JobBank are automatically posted on FloridaJobs.com.  The SFMA JobBank website receives in excess of 10,000 hits per month.
  4. Job Fairs - SFMA hosts job fairs for members both recruiting and downsizing.  Additionally, several times during the year, SFMA partners with local workforce agencies to bring manufacturers to countywide job fairs.
  5. Workers' Compensation Insurance Program - An exclusive advantage to SFMA members is a workers' compensation insurance program that provides an up-front 10% premium reduction in addition to traditional credits and dividends.

• Advocacy - SFMA advocacy was instrumental in the elimination of sales tax on capital equipment and research and development, saving members more than $565,000 in the first 18 months after its abolishment.  In addition, SFMA, in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Florida, helped secure $1.8 million in grant training dollars from Workforce Florida for one recent year, and continues each year to seek and obtain similar funds for the development of members' employees.

• Networking - SFMA holds a number of popular networking events which include: 

1. 1. Recognition of Excellence Awards Banquet - An SFMA premier event, the Awards Banquet recognizes outstanding manufacturers and presents member companies with an occasion to acknowledge exceptional employees.
   2. Annual Meeting and Expo - The Annual Meeting offers members, prospects and related businesses an opportunity to meet and discover the products Made in South Florida, to discuss problems and issues that presently face the manufacturing industry, and to celebrate successes that have occurred throughout the year.
   3. Plant Tours - Attendance at plant tours gives members an opportunity to see what's inside other manufacturing facilities and to benchmark best practices.
   4. Meetings and Seminars - SFMA educational and social programs keep members informed on the latest issues affecting business such as the programs "Fraud in the Supply Chain" and "Tax Exemptions and Credits that Affect Manufacturing."
   5. Surveys - Members can ask the SFMA staff to poll other members to compare policies, wages, benefits as well as additional data.
   6. Manufacturing Network - The SFMA office provides access to other manufacturers to save you from the effort of "reinventing the wheel."

These events are meant to help you find new suppliers, new customers, new technologies and many other benefits.

The #1 Resource For Manufacturers In South Florida