MacDonald Training Center

MacDonald Training Center offers quality vocational, community living, life enrichment and employment services to individuals in eastern Hillsborough County. For over 45 years, MTC has provided services, supports and advocacy for people with disabilities on a 19 acre location in Plant City known in the community as James Ranch. Much has changed in... the expectations for people with disabilities since Mr. and Mrs. Herbert James donated their ranch to MacDonald Training Center, Inc. in 1953. Original newspaper articles highlight the hope that young men with disabilities might be trained to do simple tasks in basic field work at the James Ranch. The plan worked and for many years MTC operated a successful nursery from James Ranch, until competition from Big Box retailers rendered it unprofitable. Today, the early supporters would be amazed by the progress made in the field of developmental disabilities and in the lives of the individuals served by MacDonald Training Center, Inc. Expectations are much higher, and services more varied ranging from career counseling to Fine Arts and computer skills training. MacDonald Training Center has led the way to richer, more independent lives byreplacing sheltered workshops and group homes with integrated, productive employment skills training and community living options. Currently, most of the individuals live in their own homes, as MTC was the first in the state of Florida to close all of its group homes. Instead the company offers in-home support services as necessitated by individual needs.Read More