Career Edge Funder | Expanding Economic Opportunity in Florida's Bradenton / Sarasota Region

Innovative Strategies to Workforce Solutions
Building a Strong and Skilled Workforce
Building Strong Relationships in Florida’s Gulf Coast Region
Expanding Economic Opportunity in Florida’s Gulf Coast Region
Expanding Career Opportunities in Florida’s Gulf Coast Region

Get to know CareerEdge

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, a national-award-winning workforce and employer-led innovative initiative, is making waves by turning the traditional model for workforce investment in Florida on its head. CareerEdge partners directly with employers in fast-growing sectors in the regional economy, to help them fill skills gaps and meet their employment needs, while at the same time assisting individuals in entering the workforce and moving up career ladders. CareerEdge is a cutting-edge initiative and is transforming the way stakeholders and policy makers in the region and around the state look at career training.

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to provide an exceptional labor force to the regions growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships.

VISION STATEMENT: CareerEdge will be known as the region’s distinguished workforce development organization that promotes economic prosperity through strong employer-labor and community partnerships.

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CareerEdge is the first Funders Collaborative designated as a National Fund for Workforce Solutions site in the Southeastern US. The collaborative uses donated funds to create a skilled labor pool in the Manatee-Sarasota region and helps local employers find the talent they need. Learn more about how we fulfill this vital mission and how you can help drive economic development in the Manatee-Sarasota region.

2018 Evaluator Report on Outcomes and Impacts

$10.6M

In Investments

5,365

Workers Trained

1,482

New Jobs Created

7,734

Certificates/Degrees Earned

$28M

New Wages & Raises

What’s New?

The Regional Workforce Council in Partnership with USF Sarasota-Manatee set a Workforce Development Legislative Agenda for 2020

Partners across the Manatee and Sarasota region came together to develop a workforce and education agenda this year. The region will have a collective voice for state legislators and local government officials. Click to read the 2020 Workforce Legislative Agenda

CareerEdge Receives Boeing Grant for On the Job Training in the Manufacturing Industry

CareerEdge is one of two nationwide sites selected to launch the second phase of a Boeing on the job training grant to upskill and increase wages for workers in the manufacturing industry. On the job training (OJT) is a hands-on method of teaching workers the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to perform a specific job. Employees will earn a paycheck while learning in the actual environment where work is performed. Read More

CareerEdge Funder Committee approves $206,918 to upskill workers

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative recently awarded a total of $206,918 in grants to Healthcare and Manufacturing employers to upskill their employees and increase wages. The six grant awards will train a total of 442 employees in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Grants were awarded to regional employers: Tidewell Hospice, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Life Care Center, KHS and PGT Innovations.

Inaugural Air Conditioning Fast-Track Training Coming to Newtown

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, the workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, is working with Cool Today to develop an HVAC Maintenance Fast-Track Training at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, which will launch in May. Learn More

SARASOTA HERALD: Newtown workforce training program gains Sarasota City Commission approval

City officials hope a newly approved workforce training program in Newtown will finally create sustainable, well-paying jobs in the neighborhood where unemployment is notoriously high.

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BUSINESS OBSERVER: Behind fast-track classes, group aims to solve labor shortage

The labor shortage that plagues a variety of fields in the region has met a formidable foe: classes that get workers on the job — quickly.

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CareerEdge, PGT Innovations and Four Winds Network Services Partner with the US Chamber Job Data Exchange (JDX) Pilot Program

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Career Edge Launches Demand Driven HVAC Fast Track Training

Funded by the Eppard Family Foundation, CareerEdge hosts its first HVAC Fast Track training at Manatee Technical College. Eppard’s donation allows the 12 hand-elected students to attend at no cost.

Watch ABC7 interview on program.