Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 11-8-19

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Rep. Castor Brings $200K Grant To East Tampa Workforce Training
The Florida Lottery Takes Education Further
U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced a $200,000 grant for the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa Inc. (CDC of Tampa) through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) En- vironmental Workforce Devel- opment and Job Training Grant.
Rep. Castor championed the grant for critical environ- mental workforce training to bring our East Tampa neigh- bors into higher-paying jobs. The grant aims to create a skilled workforce in communi- ties where EPA brownfields as- sessment and cleanup activities are taking place.
“This is more than a shot in the arm for East Tampa – it will continue our work in the community using federal in- vestments to help our neigh- bors - promoting higher-paying jobs and stimu- lating economic development. The economy might be work- ing for some Americans, but not for all of us.
“I believe prioritizing skills training and providing better access to trade classes will help paychecks grow and keep up with the cost of living like we see elsewhere,” Rep. Castor said.
CDC of Tampa plans to
REP. KATHY CASTOR
train 60 students and place at least 54 graduates in environ- mental jobs. The University of South Florida will run a five- week training program and participants who complete the training will earn multiple state and federal certifications.
Ernest Coney, Jr., Pres- ident and CEO of the CDC of Tampa, Inc., said, “Our mis- sion is to equip our students with the skills they need to ob- tain good-paying, career path positions. When we can do that in a way that helps the area in which they live, we double the impact.
“When we can do that with partners like Rep. Castor, the EPA, the University of South Florida and our employ- ment partner companies, we triple the bottom line. What it all comes down to is stabilizing
ERNEST CONEY, JR.
individuals, their families and the community, so they are able to build a future for them- selves and bolster economic prosperity for the Tampa Bay area.”
Since the Environmental Workforce Development pro- gram began in 1998, more than 288 grants have been awarded. More than 18,000 individuals have completed training and more than 13,679 individuals have been placed in full-time employment.
EPA created its environ- mental job training program to offer residents of communities historically affected by envi- ronmental pollution, economic disinvestment, and Brown- fields an opportunity to gain the skills and certifications needed to secure local environ- mental work in their commu- nities.
Since the Florida Lottery’s establishment in 1988, we have given players the opportunity to transform their lives, and we have been steadfast in pursuit of im- proving education statewide, year after year.
Over the past
30years, the
Florida Lottery
has remained
committed to enhancing public education in Florida. Through- out that time, we have contributed more than $36 billion to pub- lic schools, universities and colleges, and directly to students through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which is primarily funded by the Florida Lottery, was created in 1997 by the Florida Legislature to assist students in pursuing postsecondary educa- tional career goals. Since the program’s inception, we have con- tributed more than $5 billion to send more than 840,000 students to college.
The Florida Lottery is proud to be a dedicated and depend- able funding source for public education, contributing more than $1 billion annually for the past 16 consecutive years, while re- maining one of the most efficient lotteries in the country.
We thank you for helping us reach these incredible mile- stones, as a portion of every ticket purchased goes towards edu- cation. We hope that the benefits of our contributions continue to be felt in communities across the entire state.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019