CareerEdge, the workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, is continuing on-the-job training and displaced worker assistance programs thanks to a $25,000 Economic Mobility grant from Bank of America. As a founding investor and member of the CareerEdge Funders Council, this funding grant extends a decade-long partnership with Bank of America and will greatly assist CareerEdge’s continued workforce re-employment efforts.

“The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a disproportionate effect on those who are most vulnerable in our community,” said Mike McCoy, Sarasota-Manatee market president for Bank of America. “Our partnership with CareerEdge will help bolster workforce and training opportunities for many local individuals whose jobs have been impacted.”

Founded during the Great Recession, CareerEdge’s programs and strategies were born in response to economic and workforce challenges. Through partnerships with employers, educators, and funders, CareerEdge has spent the last decade turning challenges into workforce opportunities for our community. The impact to our local community over the last decade includes: - 5,977 workers trained - 8,088 certificates earned - 1,546 new jobs created - $30.4 million cumulative annual earnings gains - $12.2 Million invested in regional workforce development CareerEdge is ready to apply its proven model to address the new economic and workforce challenges, and with the continued renewal of support, will rise to meet our community’s needs.

As a nonprofit, CareerEdge could not conduct its innovative work without the generous support of its donors; many thanks to all of its funders.