The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors advances policies and initiatives to increase the prosperity of workers and employers, reduce welfare dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, and enhance productivity and competitiveness.
Workforce Policies
CareerSource Florida advances strategic policies that connect employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities. These strategic policies are high-level principles or directional statements that inform or clarify federal and state legislative policy or workforce system strategies. Strategic policies direct decision-making at the program level and may result in the development of administrative policies.
Set-Aside Initiatives
Each year, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors approves the budget for the state workforce system. This budget includes federal formula-based funding for Florida’s local workforce development boards as well as the Governor’s reserve funds, which represent 15-percent of the state’s federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) allotment, for use on initiatives led by the CareerSource Florida Board.
In the 2024-2025 program year, $13,916,901 in discretionary funding has been allocated to these set-aside initiatives:
- Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program ($3,000,000)
- Artificial Intelligence Incumbent Worker Training Pilots ($500,000)
- Rural Initiatives ($2,000,000)
- Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan ($1,200,000)
- Sectors of Strategic Focus Training Initiative ($2,000,000)
- Youth Career Exploration ($500,000)
- Florida Deputy Sheriff’s Association Registered Apprenticeship Program ($100,000)
- Get There Faster Veterans ($750,000)
- Digital Literacy and the Missing Middle ($250,000)
- Credentials Review Committee Support ($200,000)
- Supplemental WIOA Funding ($3,416,901)
For more details on each of the above-listed set-aside initiatives, click here.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) guides states in achieving and maintaining an integrated, outcome-oriented public workforce system that links diverse talent to businesses. This is accomplished through customer-driven workforce solutions and excellent customer service that support strong regional economies.
WIOA Waivers
Master Credentials List
Florida’s Master Credentials List prioritizes instructional programs that prepare Floridians for in-demand occupations. The Master Credentials List application is open year-round for Florida education institutions and local workforce development boards to submit credentials for consideration. Secondary and postsecondary industry certifications that meet Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Act eligibility criteria may also apply for CAPE funding through this application.
Education and Industry Consortiums
Education and Industry Consortiums bring together representatives from local educational entities and businesses. These consortia provide regular insights into community-based educational programs and industry needs, with quarterly reports directly informing the local workforce development board and staff. This ensures a pulse on impactful programs, services, and partnerships that drive educational and workforce opportunities.
CLIFF Dashboard
CareerSource Florida partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to develop the Florida Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) Dashboard. This tool helps Floridians identify career strategies to achieve economic stability and minimize the impacts of loss of public assistance. CareerSource Florida has developed additional resources to support local workforce development boards and partners in using the tool, including a report by the University of Florida on data gathered during the pilot phase of this initiative.
Sector Strategy Solutions
Sector strategies are regional, industry-focused approaches to building a skilled workforce and are one of the most effective ways to align public and private resources to address the talent needs of employers. While the approach is not new, there is increasing evidence showing that sector strategies can simultaneously improve employment opportunities for job seekers and the competitiveness of industries. At the heart of sector strategies are sector partnerships, sometimes referred to as industry partnerships, workforce collaboratives or regional skills alliances. These partnerships are led by businesses within a critical industry cluster working collaboratively with workforce development, education and training, economic development, labor and community organizations.