Local Workforce Funders Collaborative Hires New Director
Mireya C. Eavey has been hired as the new director for the Manatee-Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative, a group made up of public, corporate and private-philanthropic contributors dedicated to preparing low-skilled workers in the two-county region for higher paying jobs.
Ms. Eavey previously was the workforce and project manager for the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation which, similar to its counterpart in Manatee County, specializes in helping businesses expand or relocate to the area and enhancing the local workforce.
The Workforce Funders Collaborative’s approach is to build upon the existing infrastructure in place in the region, including a robust network of Industry Partnerships across the state to train and educate organizations in developing programs for incumbent workers that better meet the real needs of employers.
Ms. Eavey will report to MSWFC Co-Chairman Sherod Halliburton, Executive Director of the Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency and is in charge of coordinating and managing all aspects of the Collaborative.
A Sarasota-area resident since 1977, she is currently enrolled at Argosy University and is a few credit hours shy of obtaining a Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Systems.
“MSWFC is very fortunate to have Ms. Eavey leading the initiative,” Mr. Halliburton said. “Ms. Eavey brings significant experience working within our current workforce system. Her relationship with employers, educational institutions, the Suncoast Workforce Board along with her commitment to creating opportunities for employees is exactly what we were looking for in a director.”
About Manatee Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative
Manatee Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative was formed in 2009 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Bradenton Central CRA, the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice Inc., Bank of America and the Manatee County Action Agency. Mark Pritchett, Vice President of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, Inc. serves as Co-Chairman and is charged with fiscal oversight of the initiative.
MSWFC currently has five primary activities:
– Award program grants to IPs and other “sectoral initiatives” designed to help beginning and underemployed workers build the skills they need to get family-sustaining jobs.
– Issue capacity-building grants to improve the abilities of IPs and other “sectoral initiatives” to work with lower-skilled adults.
– Promote effective practices that expand opportunities for low-skilled workers.
– Garner additional resources by involving more foundations in sectoral initiatives.
– Advocate for the institutionalization of the IP model as the States principal vehicle for workforce development, and for the expansion and strengthening of IP networks
