Gulf Coast Community Foundation grants CareerEdge $150,000

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to CareerEdge, the workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, further solidifying the longstanding partnership between CareerEdge and GCCF, according to a news release.

The grant will support CareerEdge Funders Collaborative's initiatives to provide a labor force to growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships. CareerEdge will apply the grant to demand-driven strategies including fast-track training programs, on-the-job training, internship reimbursement and employer funding to upskill employees. 

“This investment directly fuels high-impact workforce programs that address critical skills gaps for local employers while empowering individuals to gain in-demand training, launch meaningful careers and improve their long-term financial stability,” said Vice President of CareerEdge & Economic Development Dan Sidler in the release. “The ripple effects of this support are felt across the region in businesses, in households and throughout our economy.”

Since its inception in 2010, CareerEdge and its employer partners have invested $18.5 million, providing training for 8,141 workers, resulting in 1,646 promotions, 5,210 raises and $42.1 million in workers’ aggregate annual earnings, according to the news release. In 2024, CareerEdge and partners invested $1.3 million in workforce development resulting in 486 workers trained, $2.1 million in added wages, 117 new jobs created, 213 new employment opportunities provided and 594 new certifications earned.

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative is a partnership of business, government and philanthropic organizations, leveraging public and private dollars to provide opportunities for better jobs and wages in Manatee and Sarasota counties. For more information, visit CareerEdgeFunders.org.