Tallahassee, Fla. – With Florida’s economy booming, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors is expanding access to and availability of career, training and support services with more than $10.4 million in Get There Faster: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Reserve Fund grants.
The Get There Faster grant program, approved by the board last summer, provides low-income retuning adult learners, veterans and military spouses and at-risk Floridians receiving public assistance with opportunities to obtain education and work skills needed to enhance their employability and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Grants were provided to eight local workforce development boards to assist veterans and military families and close achievement gaps among individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and/or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, recovering from substance use disorders, or returning citizens previously involved with the justice system.
“As the Governor’s principal workforce policy board, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors is committed to achieving Governor Ron DeSantis’ goal to make Florida No. 1 in the nation for workforce education,” said CareerSource Florida Board Chair Stephanie Smith. “The Get There Faster grant program is reducing employment barriers by expanding access to employment, training and support services as we work collaboratively with our education partners to connect more Floridians with economic opportunities in our state’s growing economy.”
CareerSource Gulf Coast is among eight local workforce development boards selected to receive Get There Faster grants. The grant is being used to enhance Information Technology and workplace skills for youth and adults in Bay, Gulf and Franklin County through internships. Participants are obtaining these skills either while still in school or through employment/post-secondary education or training. Adults begin employment after training while youth participants have the opportunity to continue their education or receive assistance with job placement.
“CareerSource Gulf Coast is honored to be among those chosen to receive the Get There Faster WIOA grant to expand skills training to more people in our largely rural service area,” said CareerSource Gulf Coast Executive Director Kim Bodine. “This investment has allowed us to support Floridians seeking meaningful employment in the in-demand IT field, which will also help bring economic prosperity to their families and communities.”
Other projects underway as a result of Get There Faster Workforce Innovation Act Governor’s Reserve Grants include the following:
- CareerSource Escarosa is partnering with Baptist Health Care to address healthcare workforce shortages and offer training in the Phlebotomy Intern and Medical Assisting Programs. Both programs provide paid education hours for individuals to learn technical skills and have hands-on training in one of Baptist Health Care’s departments.
- CareerSource North Central Florida is partnering with Santa Fe College to offer a workplace success course that teaches critical business application and employability skills. Based on assessments, participants are offered a work-based learning opportunity or enrolled in a short-term IT credential program. The IT credentialing will result in professional certifications through the University of Florida.
- CareerSource Central Florida is using a grant for two programs:
- Justice System-Involved Program: This program is in partnership with iBuild, a consortium of construction companies, education partners, economic development partners, and workforce development partners to offer training to justice system-involved individuals prior to re-entry and immediately after returning to their communities.
- Coordinated Care Program: Grant funds are being used to support the continuation of this program in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families, to maximize resources including those available in the private sector, faith-based community, nonprofits and government entities to assist Floridians along pathways to prosperity.
- CareerSource South Florida is offering the SO-FLO Pathways to Opportunity and Prosperity program, providing education and training through registered apprenticeship programs to advance at-risk Floridians from reliance on public assistance to economic self-sufficiency.
- CareerSource Brevard is expanding its Salesforce Academy IT Training to reach more adults and youth in high-poverty zip codes.
- CareerSource Flagler Volusia is offering the Leveraging Equitable and Enhanced Access to Prosperity (LEEAP) program to increase access to prosperity for unemployed and underemployed individuals as well as to increase the labor force participation rate through entrepreneurial mindset training, workforce education and work-based learning.
- CareerSource Pinellas is partnering with CareerSource Pasco Hernando, St. Petersburg College, Pasco Hernando State College, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Pinellas Technical College, Pinellas County Economic Development and the Pasco Economic Development Council as well as more than 15 businesses and community-based organizations in the region to identify and assist residents in high-poverty zip codes with training and employment.
This round of awards follows an announcement by the Governor last fall of an additional $8.6 million in Get There Faster grants to four local workforce development boards to expand workforce training for veterans and military spouses. More information about the veterans training and employment awards is available here. For more information about CareerSource Florida or to find your nearest career center, please visit careersourceflorida.com/career-services/your-local-team/.
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ABOUT CAREERSOURCE FLORIDA
CareerSource Florida, with its business-led board of directors, provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. The CareerSource Florida State Board serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with DEO, which is responsible for the state workforce system’s fiscal and administrative affairs, and local workforce development boards that serve Florida’s businesses and career seekers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.