WorkForce Now has merged with FutureMakers Coalition, a local college access network serving the five-county region of Southwest Florida. WorkForce Now is a regional research initiative that provides in-kind support and information of regional workforce gaps, skills and characteristics to educators and the public. Workforce Now member institutions, Florida SouthWestern State College, Florida Gulf Coast University and Hodges University, are also members of the FutureMakers Coalition.
WorkForce Now studies industries or sectors each year to provide a stream of information from employers to educational institutions and looks for ways to create dialogue and build partnerships between business and higher education institutions. The group, which began its work in 2013, has produced findings on workforce needs, job and employment needs and education systems. The FutureMakers Coalition will provide administrative support, help collect data and guide additional research.
“The beauty of this ‘merger’ is that this is work that was already happening, and it’s now being aligned with a larger regional initiative,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation in a press release. “The FutureMakers Coalition’s focus is to align all of the work that’s being done by other organizations and partners in the ‘cradle-to-career’ system at a regional level, and the results of these collaborations will enhance the region’s educational and economic success.”
To learn more about the FutureMakers Coalition and WorkForce Now partnership, read the following press release.