CareerEdge Funders Collaborative Announces New Healthcare Workforce Grants

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative announces new healthcare workforce grants totaling $289,619 over the next 12- months to five healthcare organizations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.  CareerEdge will develop a partnership with the healthcare employers they are funding to assist employers in identifying, understanding and addressing the challenges they are experiencing in hiring, retaining and advancing their workforce.  This initiative will create value for employers by helping employers identify, understand and address workers’ skill development needs with the funding and partnership commitment from CareerEdge. The Healthcare Employer Partners have planned training for 410 incumbent workers and project 118 new jobs.

The Healthcare Employer Partners include:  Blake Medical Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Kobernick-Anchin Pavilion and The Life Center of Sarasota. CareerEdge will facilitate collaboration with employers and employees, educational and training providers and community partners to address employer’s workforce needs.

Daniel J. Friedrich, III, President and CEO of Blake Medical Center said “Blake Medical Center is the proud recipient of a grant from the CareerEdge Funders Collaborative of Manatee & Sarasota. We are thankful for CareerEdge’s leadership and support in developing our workforce’s skills and making a difference in the careers and the health of our community. These funds will enable us to provide advanced clinical training for emergency room and intensive care nurses as well as continuing education for rehabilitation therapy staff. CareerEdge’s role in fostering an economically sustainable and competitive environment for the suncoast is paramount and welcome by Blake Medical Center as a large area employer.”

“We’re extremely pleased to offer this special program to our employees,” said Gerard Violette, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Executive Director of Hospitality Services. “Although we provide a very competitive tuition reimbursement program, going back to school remains a challenge for many of our entry level employees who may be juggling multiple jobs while raising a family and dealing with transportation and child care challenges. This program removes one of the most significant barriers by allowing them to earn their normal paycheck while they take time to go back to school.”

CareerEdge is an innovative workforce development intermediary initiative dedicated to helping low-skill/low-wage workers advance to higher-skill/higher-wage careers while providing employers with the skilled workers they need. It was recently designated as one of only 24 national grantees of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.

As Director, Mireya Eavey leads CareerEdge in it strategic direction, fundraising, program investments, capacity building and policy development.  Lisa Carter is the Program Coordinator, in her role she is responsible for Employer Partnership management, human resource benchmarking and analysis and reporting of labor markets within CareerEdge partnerships.

The Founding Partners in this public-private initiative are the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Central Community Redevelopment Agency, the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, Bank of America, Bradenton 14th Street CRA and the Manatee County Action Agency. CareerEdge is also supported by contributions from National Fund for Workforce Solutions, Sarasota County Government, City of Sarasota Newtown CRA and Suncoast Workforce.