SARASOTA — A new workforce organization — Manatee Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative — announced Wednesday it has secured nearly $1.5 million to invest in the local health care sector.
The two-county workforce collaborative, which formed to help advance low-wage workers into higher-paying jobs, will use its first major financial commitments to provide additional education and training to entry-level health care workers.
Officials from the collaborative say they want to help local employers meet a growing demand for skilled health care workers.
“The collaborative provides a long-term, industry-specific intervention strategy that can help transform the local workforce and economy,” said Meredith Hector, Bradenton program director for the Knight Foundation.
The Knight Foundation is providing a $1 million grant to the workforce collaborative. In addition, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice will contribute $150,000 over the next three years, the city of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency will give $200,000 over five years, and the Downtown Development Authority in Bradenton will give $200,000 over four years. The Manatee Community Action Agency contributed $20,000 to the workforce collaborative. Other members of the collaborative include the Suncoast Workforce Board, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and local hospitals.
Health care officials in Manatee and Sarasota counties say the collaborative’s efforts will be crucial in helping local hospitals and health care providers meet a statewide nursing shortage.
Florida is estimated to have a shortfall of 32,900 registered nurses in 2015, and a shortage of 52,200 registered nurses by 2019, according to the Florida Center for Nursing.
“If we don’t address the needs quickly, we won’t be the quality institution we are today,” said Melody Trimble, chief executive officer of Venice Regional Medical Center. “We have to help workers get beyond just an associate’s degree.”
In Manatee, 67 percent of entry-level health care workers have less than a bachelor of science degree, and 21 percent have an associate’s degree, according to research conducted by the collaborative.
“There’s room for advancement in the skilled development area here, especially in health care,” said Mark Pritchett, vice president of community investment for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice.
In the future, the collaborative plans to focus on assisting other industries such as manufacturing, transportation and technology.
However, the organization chose to first focus on the health care industry because it makes up a significant employer size locally.
In Manatee, health care is the largest employer, making up 10 percent of all employment. In Sarasota County, it is the largest source of employment at 15 percent.
The collaborative plans to start reviewing local employers requests for funding in February.
Pritchett said local employers will present proposals detailing their funding and education needs for workers to the collaborative.
The collaborative’s policy board will be responsible for reviewing proposals and deciding which employers to fund and at what level.
“Our role is to provide support, flexibility and connectivity,” said Sherod Halliburton, executive director of the Central Community Redevelopment Agency. “This is a very important initiative for our community.”
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