By Jay Meisel

meisel@hometownnewsol.com

TREASURE COAST - Workforce Solutions is seeking about $14 million to hire 726 employees in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

The $14 million is part of $200 million available statewide for the Florida Back to Work Program announced by Gov. Charlie Crist last month.

Odaly Victorio, spokeswoman for Workforce Solutions, said the program would pay salaries for new employees for six months, with the expectation the employers would keep the employees beyond that.

Employers would be responsible for any benefits beyond salary and paying 4 percent of the cost of hiring the employee.

It's possible hiring could begin as early as Feb. 1, she said. Workforce Solutions officials expect to receive word in two weeks about how many jobs were approved for the Treasure Coast.

Since the program was announced in December, she said, the staff at Workforce Solutions has scrambled to get the word out to employers potentially interested.

Staff members contacted more than 100 employers and put out public announcements, Ms. Victorio said.

The final papers were sent to the state within minutes of the deadline, she said.

"It was a huge effort in a short amount of time," she added.

The employers interested in the program were of a large variety, Ms. Victorio said.

Those included nonprofit organizations, such as Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, and businesses, including Oxford Management in Fort Pierce and Liberator Medical Supply in Martin County.

The final breakdown for St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties were:

. Indian River County: 36 employers seeking to hire 126 employees at a cost of $2.9 million

. Martin County: 51 employers seeking to hire 261 employees at a cost of $5.69 million

. St. Lucie County: 49 employers seeking to hire 339 employees at a cost of $5.7 million

One of the employers hoping to benefit from the program is Med Flash, a company with a product allowing medical information storage and providing easy access to it.

"It's a great way for them to stimulate the economy," said Al Forcella, vice president of operations.

He said they want to hire two employees.

"We're trying to grow our business," he said, but added the company would delay the hiring if its request is not approved.

If the company gets approval, he said, the intent is to keep the employees beyond six months.