This year, the U.S. Census registered a rapid decline in African Americans in poverty, pacing well ahead of non-blacks in the city, and blacks elsewhere in Florida. CareerEdge has stepped in to assist with raising individuals out of poverty as a partner in the St. Petersburg 2020 Plan.  The group launched in 2014 with 100 partners supporting the goal to reduce poverty by 30% by 2020 in South St. Petersburg where 74% of the poor are black.  Read more on the recent census updates, here.

Executive Director of CareerEdge and United Way Suncoast Sarasota Area President, Mireya Eavey, recently sat on a panel for the Aspen Institute to discuss tax reform and the effects it has on low-income families.  The panel also included Alex Brill of the American Enterprise Institute and Frank Clemente, Executive Director of Americans for Tax Fairness.  The discussion was also live streamed on C-SPAN 3, to view the video click here.

SRQ Magazine shared information on the CareerEdge funded plumbing and electrician express courses at Manatee Technical College.  Over 100 individuals showed up for the information session in hopes of joining the classes.  Plumbing and electricians are both in high-demand, with employers actively searching for qualified workers.  To read more about the express courses, click here.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune also recently reported that the development of skilled labor has proven difficult for many employers.  Local Bradenton manufacturer, Veethree Instruments, has been in hiring mode but they are unable to find the qualified individuals to fill the many spots.  The President/CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Council, Sharon Hillstrom, says that the key to changing this cycle is listening to employers.  To read the entire article, click here.