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September is Workforce Development Month and CareerEdge has successfully trained and placed over 4,790 people in the local workforce to date. WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 5, 2018) – Right now local unemployment is very low, and there is high-demand from employers for skilled workers. Workforce Development Month provides the opportunity to look at the current labor market and shine a light on approaches that are working—and where they are working—to help more Americans connect to jobs and career pathways with employers who need and value them. CareerEdge Funders Collaborative has partnered with local organizations and The National Fund for Workforce Solutions to ensure the Sarasota/ Manatee region has the workforce it needs to respond to local demand. Currently, CareerEdge is partnering with the Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation and Financial Services sectors to implement strategies to close skills gaps and connect people to career-laddering occupations with family-sustaining wages. Projects include fast-track technician trainings for automotive, air conditioning, plumbing, broadband and electrical, as well as funded certified nurse assistant programs. CareerEdge also launched a skills gap study of the Insurance industry, and has convened a Regional Workforce Council of key stakeholders to address workforce policy. Measurable outcomes from these efforts include: • 233 Employer partnerships established • 4,790 Workers trained and/or served • $9.8 Million invested in workforce development • 7,404 Certifications Earned • 1,369 New jobs created by funded employers The insights gathered from workforce leaders in over 30 regions in the National Fund’s network can guide other communities who are also addressing their local labor force challenges and needs. In doing so, the collaborative’s network of support amplifies national efforts to promote a comprehensive workforce system that creates greater economic mobility for thousands of low-wage workers. “The National Fund uses the information and success at the local level to identify promising practices that may be duplicated to benefit both employers and workers,” said Fred Dedrick, president and CEO of the National Fund. “Real change starts at the local level, and we have seen that time and time again from our regional workforce collaboratives. They are the ones who have the ability to lead to significant improvements in workforce systems and business practices.” About CareerEdge Funders Collaborative CareerEdge is an innovative partnership of business, government, and philanthropic organizations that leverages public and private dollars to provide opportunities for better jobs and wages in Manatee and Sarasota counties. The first regional collaborative of workforce investors in the southeastern United States to be designated as a site of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, CareerEdge was created with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Bank of America, Bradenton 14th Street Community Redevelopment Agency, Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, and Manatee Community Action Agency. It is also supported by contributions from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft, Sarasota County Government, Jane’s Trust, JP Morgan Chase, Scheidel Foundation, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast. For more information about CareerEdge and its partners, please visit www.careeredgefunders.org or call 941.556.4029. ] About The National Fund for Workforce Solutions The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a national network promoting equitable economic opportunity and prosperous communities through investment and innovation. Based in Washington D.C., the National Fund partners with philanthropy, employers, workers, public and private community organizations and more than 30 regional collaboratives to invest in skills, improve systems and generate good jobs. The National Fund supports civic and business leaders in promoting evidence-based practices and policies that build shared prosperity. Learn more about the National Fund and its local partners at www.NationalFund.org.