Report: $10M investment leads to 4,000 workers trained

SARASOTA — Sarasota-based CareerEdge Funders Collaborative released a report on its workforce development outcomes in the Manatee-Sarasota region.

The report details CareerEdge data from its inception in 2010 to 2016. According to a press release announcing the report, $10.1 million was invested in workforce development since 2010 with over 4,000 workers trained. The press release also states the funding led to a $20.7 million increase in annual earnings gains for area employees.

“This report highlights exactly what CareerEdge and its funders work so hard to accomplish,” says CareerEdge Executive Director Mireya Eavey in a statement. “Every day we try to impact as many workers, students and adults in our region as we can. We are constantly working to find new and innovative approaches to workforce problems.”

The collaborative's young adult internship program supported over 90 local interns from 35 colleges and universities at 44 area employers in the past year.

According to the document, the report “captures the measurable impacts that have so far resulted or followed from investments made by CareerEdge Funders Collaborative toward the goals of strengthening the labor market and workforce development system of Florida's Gulf Coast region, and moving more low-skilled workers up the career ladder.”

CareerEdge is a nonprofit partnership of businesses, government, and philanthropic organizations that focuses on providing opportunities for better jobs and wages in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Initial financial support came from a host of groups, including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; city of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency; the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Bank of America; Bradenton 14th Street Community Redevelopment Agency; the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority; and the Manatee Community Action Agency. Other supporters include Microsoft; Sarasota County Government; Jane's Trust; JP Morgan Chase; United Way Suncoast; Jobs for the Future; and the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.

(This story was updated with information about CareerEdge's funding.)