SPRING ISSUE | May 22, 2019
CareerEdge Funders Collaborative is the workforce initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
NEWS UPDATE
CareerEdge 2018 Evaluation Finds Wages Increase 56% Within Two Years for Bridges Participants
This year's employees’ aggregate earnings from increased wages due to raises and/or new positions is almost $3.7 million. The RIMS-II model was used to estimate the economic impact of increased wages and new jobs. Using the direct effect multiplier, the 2018 impact of those increased wages on the regional economy is $5.5 million.

CareerEdge has an independent third-party evaluation performed annually to review our impact on employer partnerships, job training and workforce strategies that impact our community. With successes and lessons learned captured in the report, CareerEdge determines strategies for the future while benchmarking data collected since its inception. 
CareerEdge Awards Workforce Funding to Local Employers
CareerEdge Funders recently approved 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.
Healthcare grant recipients: 

  • Life Care Center
  • Manatee Memorial Hospital
  • Sarasota Memorial Hospital
  • Tidewell Hospice
Manufacturing grant recipients:
 
  • KHS
  • PGT Innovations
Regional Workforce Council Establishes Legislative Priorities
Late last year CareerEdge convened a group of community, business, education and workforce leaders in Sarasota and Manatee counties to develop a workforce legislative agenda. The agenda represents the first time there has been a collective set of community workforce 2019 legislative priorities. Early February, Executive Vice President of CareerEdge and Education Initiatives, Mireya Eavey, traveled to Tallahassee to meet with state lawmakers and present the Regional Workforce Council Legislative Agenda.  

On May 21st, Casey Welch with the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and Holly Bullard with the Florida Policy Institute, provided a legislative session update at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. 

The Institute for Public Policy and Leadership at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, in partnership with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce/CareerEdge, are hosting a Regional Workforce Solutions Summit on June 21, 2019, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM to identify actionable policy issues for consistent advocacy efforts by workforce stakeholders with local, state and federal decision makers..
Fast-Track HVAC Training Adds Workers to the Industry
11 individuals recently graduated from the first HVAC Installation Fast-Track Training, held at Manatee Technical College (MTC). 100% have job offers from the following local HVAC companies: Cool Today, Veterans Air, Del Air, Unique Air, Sean McCutcheon, Dan Eder, Ultimate Air, Putnam Mechanical, Aqua Air and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

The HVAC Fast-Track Training was piloted as a way for employers to quickly fill in-demand HVAC Installation openings and to create access to HVAC career pathways with opportunities for future promotions. CareerEdge and donor Walt Eppard brought HVAC employers and MTC together to identify the specific curriculum components for this consolidated, employer-led, hands-on training. 

Highlighting the effectiveness of this program, Michael Bannister, Manager at Del-Air said, “The combination of the technical and soft skills learned in this program has made each of the graduates an instant asset that any installation team would gladly have. The continuation of programs such as this will continue to bolster the students, instructors, trade partners, and the community for years to come.”
Pinellas Workforce Leadership Council
CareerEdge is into its second year of grant funding from the Foundation for Healthy St Pete. Working with the St Pete EDC, CareerEdge partnered in the development of its workforce resource map for local employers.

The Pinellas Workforce Leadership Committee recently met and determined it would focus its efforts on establishing a skilled trades collaborative to include HVAC, Automotive, Plumbing and Construction. CareerEdge and partners are meeting with Pinellas Technical College and local dealerships to pilot an Automotive Lube Technician Fast Track training for this fall. 
CareerEdge in the News
Upcoming Fast-Track Training
The Automotive Lube Technician and Electrical Fast-Track Training at Suncoast Technical College (STC) lauched with 16 Students between the two cohorts on April 8th. Bridges to Careers Soft Skill training took place May 7 & 8. Bank of America Better Money Habits will be presented on June 4th.
CareerEdge HVAC Maintenance 101 Fast-Track Training at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club begins May 28th for up to 12 students. Training will be led by Cool Today employees.
CAREEREDGE FUNDERS : Bank of America, Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation , Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, National Fund for Workforce Solutions, Sarasota County Government, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, US Chamber of Commerce