CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, the workforce development program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, recently receive recognition from Sarasota County Schools with the 2022 Outstanding Business Partner Award. The award, coming from the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, recognizes outstanding business partners that support students through their work with individual schools or school systems. Starting in 1987, the Florida Education Foundation has celebrated the commitment between businesses and their school districts. The goal of the awards is to recognize leaders and partners who have shown commitment to positive change and new approaches to improving the academic performance of students in Florida.

CareerEdge was submitted for this award because of the work done with Suncoast Technical College (STC) on the Tiny Home project. The two-year project was a combined effort between CareerEdge and STC to allow students learn construction-related skills by building a tiny home on the school campus. 185 students earned a total of 145 industry-recognized certifications throughout the course of the project. This project will continue to serve as a rolling promotional center to encourage skilled trades education and careers to K-12 students and families in the community.  

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, the workforce development program of the Sarasota Chamber, made a $3.8 million economic impact in the local region in 2021. Its 2021 Evaluation Report details the results of its programs with cumulative data demonstrating its impact in local workforce over 11 years. Demographics by age, gender, and ethnicity, certifications earned, and increases in annual wages round out this highly informative and detailed report.

CareerEdge’s goals are to help low-skill and low-wage earners advance in their careers. It strives to reach the underserved and underemployed by providing funding for training and resources for career placement. In 2021, CareerEdge’s Bridges to Careers programs offered training in its targeted industries: healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and skilled trades. Ninety-six people graduated from one or more of its programs - 50% of them were non-white/BIPOC and 25% were unemployed prior to the training. All participants averaged an increased hourly wage of $3.79 per hour post-training.

CareerEdge offers funding to employers for upskilling workers and wage reimbursement for on-the-job training and internships. The 2021 Upskilling Workers grant funding reached 398 workers across 403 trainings. These workers earned a total of 369 industry-recognized certifications and increased their hourly wages by 11.4% post-training. The wage increase equates to an additional $4,888 in earned income per worker in 2021, totaling an annual earnings gain of $1,945,424 across the local workforce. 

Last month, fourteen dedicated and caring CNA candidates successfully completed training at State College of Florida (SCF), making them eligible to take the state exam for licensure as healthcare professionals. These fourteen individuals were selected for the training program, which includes classes on Life & Career Skills, from a competitive pool of over forty-five applicants.

One graduate shared, “I can’t thank CareerEdge enough for giving us this opportunity. Although every person in our class is unique, we all share the same passion, drive, and spirit - the desire to care for others and put another’s needs before our own. Thank you for believing in us and showing us that it’s never too late to set a goal and reach for the sky!” 

On May 5, Core Construction Skills training graduates enjoyed pizza and praise for being the first class to complete this entry-level certification training, which can open doors to a rewarding career in the construction industry.

Training graduates have the opportunity to be considered for employment by subcontractors working for Willis Smith Construction, general contractor for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Master Plan. Within one week of completing the training, two of the eight graduates were hired by Bright Future Electric and are currently working on site.

“We are so proud of this first class of eight individuals, who demonstrated a commitment to learn from day one,” said Kristi Hoskinson, vice president of CareerEdge.

The first-of-its-kind Core Construction Skills training program is made possible through $100,000 in funding assistance from the Campaign for Selby Gardens’ Master Plan, with additional support from Bank of America.

Community partners in this collaborative training and job placement initiative include CareerEdge, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Willis Smith Construction, Technical Education Council, and Goodwill Manasota.