Tallahassee, FL — August 21, 2025 —The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors (Board) convened last week, following the joint Strategic Policy & Performance Council and Finance Council meeting. Together, these sessions advanced statewide workforce priorities through strategic policy enhancements, and program improvements. The meetings reinforced Florida’s commitment to aligning education and training with industry demand, expanding opportunity for Floridians, and ensuring communities are supported through a modern, responsive workforce system.
“CareerSource Florida is dedicated to advancing policies and initiatives that strengthen the state’s workforce,” said Adrienne Johnston, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida. “By aligning resources with high-demand career pathways, ensuring accountability, and enhancing training and service delivery, we are helping Floridians achieve economic prosperity while meeting the evolving needs of employers.”
Among the items approved, the Board adopted a new statewide policy to strengthen components and case management of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program, outlining how local boards operate in line with Florida’s SNAP E&T Plan and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Plan. This policy ensures consistent and accountable delivery of services, including job search support, skills training, and work experience for SNAP participants across all 21 local workforce development boards. Case management will focus on Individualized Employment Plans (IEPs) that guide participants toward long-term career success and self-sufficiency.
In addition, the board reflected on the outcomes of last year’s 15 percent state-level set-aside investments, a portion of federal workforce funding reserved for statewide priorities. These set-aside resources supported more than 6,500 Floridians with training and career services in FY24–25, resulting in over 780 industry-recognized credentials earned—particularly in healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and IT—with participants reporting an average annual wage of $42,712 and an average wage growth of $1,628. More than 200 businesses benefitted from incumbent worker training (IWT), while youth career exploration pilots connected hundreds of students from underserved communities to high-growth industries.
The Board also received an update on the Credentials Review Committee (CRC), which reviewed 134 credentials for alignment with Florida’s Framework of Quality as part of the 2025–2026 Master Credentials List (MCL), ensuring programs continue to support high-demand, high-wage career pathways. CareerSource Florida now hosts quarterly office hours for workforce and education partners, providing local boards and training providers direct access to credentialing experts to better align credentials with employer needs and the state’s long-term talent goals.
Additionally, the board meeting also featured a panel discussion with local and state leaders exploring how workforce partners are aligning performance and accountability strategies to strengthen credential attainment. Panelists included Dr. Mark Baird, Deputy Director of the REACH Office within the Executive Office of the Governor; Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell of the Florida Department of Education; Joshua Matlock, President & CEO of CareerSource Suncoast; and Cheryl Taylor, President of CareerSource Northeast Florida. Together, they highlighted promising practices, innovative partnerships, and data-driven approaches that are delivering measurable results and advancing Florida’s long-term talent goals.
Board members also had the opportunity to visit the Florida State Fire College (FSFC) to tour the facility, observe live classroom instruction, and engage with instructors from Marion Technical College. The visit provided firsthand insight into the certifications and career pathways available to firefighters, including specialized disciplines such as those of the Urban Search and Rescue team, which was recently deployed to Texas for flood recovery efforts.
With new policies, partnerships, and credentialing initiatives underway, CareerSource Florida is advancing the next chapter of workforce innovation across the state.
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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 Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce), Florida’s 21 local workforce development boards, and their 117 career centers. The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with FloridaCommerce, 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.