Bank of America Awards CareerEdge $50,000

July 14, 2021 – Sarasota

Bank of America awards CareerEdge, the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s workforce initiative, $50,000 to continue its efforts in workforce development, specifically with its Fast-Track training programs. As a founding investor and 11-year participant on the CareerEdge Funders Council, this is the latest support the bank has provided in a longstanding partnership that seeks to strengthen the workforce opportunities available to the community.

CareerEdge will use the funding to expand its Bridges to Careers Fast-Track programs to provide foundational training with industry-recognized credentials for 75 participants, as well as life and career skills training. Participants will also receive financial education training from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits sessions.  

As part of the Fast-Track program, employers offer ongoing practical learning and hands-on training to further develop the graduates as well. Fast-Track training programs are available for a variety of occupations and industries, including healthcare, electrical, plumbing, construction, and HVAC.

Recently, Bank of America announced its newly expanded $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity. The bank’s support of CareerEdge’s resources is a direct result of this national commitment

“Connecting individuals with the skills they need to achieve economic mobility is critical to the success of our region, especially among historically underserved residents,” said Mike McCoy, President, Bank of America Sarasota-Manatee. “We look forward to seeing how our support of CareerEdge’s Fast-Track initiatives contributes to this mission, including bringing meaningful jobs training and resources to people of color in Sarasota-Manatee that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.”

Bank of America has provided $210,000 in funding to four Sarasota-Manatee organizations, including CareerEdge, to help advance racial equity and economic opportunity in the region this quarter. As part of the bank’s broader efforts to support economic mobility, it has granted a total of $410,000 to 19 local nonprofits this year.

Since the Great Recession in 2008, CareerEdge has used its successful model to partner with employers and education providers to drive system change. Given the current workforce climate, CareerEdge is uniquely positioned to assist with helping people get back to work. As a nonprofit, CareerEdge could not conduct its innovative work without the support of its donors.