A collaboration between Florida Gulf Coast University and FutureMakers Coalition won $23M from U.S. Commerce Department’s Good Jobs Challenge. The funding supports the Equitable Jobs Pipeline: an effort to connect underemployed and unemployed Southwest Florida residents with training for industry-recognized credentials and, ultimately, careers with local employers committed to this partnership. More than 1,700 local job seekers, including those from underserved populations, who face barriers to education, employment and career advancement will be fast-tracked for professional advancement.
The first four target industries for the Equitable Jobs Pipeline are:
- Health care
- Manufacturing
- K-12 public education
- Logistics
The early phases of the work has already produced results, with hundreds of individuals joining newly created healthcare pathways and dozens more placed into in-demand jobs. One of only 32 partnerships selected for the Good Jobs Challenge, the partnership leveraged their documented ability to convene the public, private, and social sectors to improve education and talent outcomes.
