What is the CareerEdge Upskilling Workers Grants program? 

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative is the workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota  Chamber of Commerce. At the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, we understand that one of the  biggest challenges that our local businesses face is attracting and retaining talent. Our model uses a  demand-driven strategy to enhance the regional workforce through a variety of programs, including Fast Track training, on-the-job training, internship reimbursement and upskilling workers grants. 

Once a year, CareerEdge opens its grant cycle to help fund employers seeking financial assistance for their  workforce training plan, our Upskilling Workers Grant program. If your company invests in your employees  through training which results in industry-related credentials and/or occupational specific certificates, you  are “upskilling” your workforce. We recognize that training your workforce is an investment of time and  money. CareerEdge will help offset a portion of your company’s investment with our grant funding. This  program is made available through money provided by our gracious funders. 

Who is eligible to receive funding? 

CareerEdge is requesting proposals from Manufacturing, Skilled Trades, Healthcare, and Insurance sector  employers located in Manatee, and Sarasota who can make a compelling case that the CareerEdge  Employer Partnership Model can help them accelerate promotions for incumbent workers, speedup job  creation and improve the company’s bottom-line. Eligible businesses are in Sarasota or Manatee County  and are members of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.  

Who should apply? 

Employers looking to invest in company trainings to close skills gaps, upskill incumbent works and increase the advancement of current and new workers in one our four focus industries: healthcare, manufacturing,  skilled trades (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, construction, and automotive) or insurance. 

What are the key timeline and dates for the application process? 

The 2025 Upskilling Workers Grants timeline is outlined below: 

What are the steps to apply? 

Applying for a 2025 Upskilling Workers Grant is a three-step process.  

1. Submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) outlining your workforce challenges and how you would grant  funding to address those challenges. 

2. Formal application submitted through our online portal. 

3. 30-minute Interview to discuss your application and proposed training plan.  

Instructions for each of these steps are outlined below. 

What is the Letter of Interest (LOI)? 

Provided you meet the eligibility criteria as stated above, the first step in the grant process is to submit a  Letter of Interest (LOI) to CareerEdge, on company letterhead, sharing your current workforce challenges  and how CareerEdge funding will help address some of those challenges. 

Template – Formal Business Letter 

Heading/Address - 

Dan Sidler, Vice President 

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative 

1945 Fruitville Road 

Sarasota, FL 34236 

Body - 

Declare your intention to apply for the Upskilling Grant 2025.  

Provide general background information about your business. Describe workforce challenges. Provide general information of the use of the funds to address those challenges, including a brief  description of desired training program(s) and estimated number of participating employees. 

Closing/Signature - 

Your name, title 

Business name and address 

Letters of Interest must be submitted by March 21, 2025. 

What is covered during the required Orientation session? 

During the session, CareerEdge staff will provide a full breakdown and walk-through for applicants on the  application process. We will cover how to use the Grant Preparation Guide, the grant portal, and important  keys to success for your application.  

When and where will the Orientation take place? 

Wednesday, March 26 – 9:00-10:00 am 

On Zoom – Link will be sent to the selected companies following their Letter of Interest submittal. 

What are the Upskilling Workers Grant Directions and Grant Preparation Guide?

The Upskilling Worker Grant Directions (PDF) and Grant Preparation Guide (Microsoft Excel Workbook) will  be provided prior to the orientation to all parties submitting a Letter of Interest.  

The Grant directions will include your Apricot login information, while the Grant Preparation Guide will provide organization and questions related to your grant application. Apricot is the external website and  database used to compile, organize, and accept our grant funding. The directions include step by step  procedures for accessing, completing, saving, and submitting your official grant application on the Apricot  website.  

Additionally, the Grant Preparation Guide Excel workbook can be utilized as a rough draft for internal use.  It is not the application, but it aligns with the application process completely and allows applicants to work  through the process seamlessly with the ease of saving and returning to the work. The Preparation Guide is  broken down into six tabs, each tab is associated with an aspect of the application. 

• Employer Grant Application 

• 1. Quantitative Training Program Summary 

• 2. Job Quality 

• 3. Benefits for Employees 

• 4. Program Budget 

• 5. Benefits for Your Company 

How do I gain access to the Apricot Online portal? 

An invitation to apply and your unique login information for the portal will be sent to the person indicated in  the LOI. 

Applicants must follow the provided directions to complete the submittal process. There are a variety of  questions to be answered in each of the aspects of the application. Please see the Preparation Guide for  more details. Please note, the Apricot system can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the platform.  We will cover how to use the platform during the Orientation. 

What is the purpose of the phone/zoom interview after I have submitted my application? 

After submitting your application, CareerEdge staff will schedule a 30-minute phone or zoom interview to  discuss your application. The purpose of this interview is to gain a better understanding of the funding  request and training plan details. This is also an opportunity for CareerEdge staff to ask any clarifying  question regarding your application and if any improvements can be made before final submittal is made to  the Funders Council. 

What happens after I have completed the 2025 Upskilling Workers Grants submission process? 

CareerEdge staff will summarize and present application information to the Funders Council. Additionally,  this information will be provided to the Funders Council 5 business days prior to the scheduled meeting to  review. The Funders Council will have the ultimate authority to approve funding requests and determine  the approved amounts. 

When will I know if I have been selected to receive a grant? 

All applicants will be informed of their status, regardless of if they are approved or denied. Selected  companies will be notified in late May of their application approval. Upon approval of grant funding,  CareerEdge notifies employers and issues agreements.

If selected, CareerEdge will… 

• CareerEdge staff creates contractual agreement to reflect current year, employer, and other plan  details. 

• CareerEdge provides employers with MOU, which stipulates 50% of grant awarded when  agreement fully executed and remainder upon request (contingent on grant outcomes). • CareerEdge sends grant agreement to employer for review and signature prior to signing.  • CareerEdge submits check request for payment upon receipt of fully executed agreement. 

What is expected of my company, should I be awarded an Upskilling Workers Grant? 

Generally, CareerEdge requires grantees to: 

• Assign a person to oversee this plan. 

• Honor the training plan you submitted; do what you say you are going to do. • Keep CareerEdge informed if there needs to be a shift in the training plan. • Track your CareerEdge dollars – where are they being spent (mid-point check-in will require this  tracking) 

• Track annually: (1) who has been trained; (2) their training status (in progress, completed), (3)  certifications earned (where applicable), (4) wage increases (where applicable), (5) job  promotions. 

• A representative of the Employer Partner is required to attend quarterly council meetings to  participate in the discussion on training, funding, and other topics related to the industry  regionally and nationally. During one of these council meetings, we kindly request you provide a  brief summary/update on your training programs. 

• Expectation of Marketing 

o Employer Partner agrees that activities, services, and events funded by this Agreement will  recognize CareerEdge as a funding source. Employer Partner will ensure that all publicity,  public relations, advertisements, and signs within its control recognize CareerEdge for the  support of all contracted activities. The use of the official CareerEdge logo is permissible.  

o Employer Partner will use its best efforts to ensure that all media representatives, when  inquiring with the Employer Partner about the activities funded by the agreement, are  informed that CareerEdge is a funding source. Employer Partner will, if it possesses the  appropriate technology, provide a link between the website and CareerEdge’s website. 

o Additionally, we ask employers to provide testimonials (feedback) from the employees who  have received training with the Upskilling Workers funding. We’re looking for your business  to tell their story for example (press release announcing the award from CareerEdge;  updates through the 18 months, take pictures; share success stories on social media tagging  CareerEdge). 

What are the ongoing expectations for reporting through the end of the Grant cycle? There are three main reporting events through the grant cycle. 

1. January 2026: Employer End-of-Year Partner Reporting for 2025 

2. Mid-point Check-in in March – April of 2025 

3. January 2027: Employer End-of-Year Partner Reporting for 2026 

What is the Mid-point check-in?

In March of 2026, a Midpoint check-in document will be sent to the person overseeing the plan. The  purpose of this document is to gauge the status of the plan, gain insights on types and amounts of  expenses accrued, review the training program, number of workers trained, and to make  recommendations, changes and/or revisions of the original plan.  

Any alterations, variations, modifications, extensions, or waivers of provisions of the Agreement including  but not limited to amount payable and effective term will only be valid when they have been reduced to  writing, duly approved and signed by both Parties. 

What are the End-of-Year Reporting Requirements for 2025 and 2026? 

Employer Partner will be required to collect data related to the project outcomes described in the grant  request and enter them on a timely basis into a data collection system which will be provided by  CareerEdge. Information about this system and technical assistance regarding its use will be made  available. Employer Partner is expected to collaborate with a third-party evaluator chosen by CareerEdge,  the evaluation team that will document the outcomes of the Initiative for a period of (2) two years upon  singing of this agreement. Grantees are expected to submit organizational and training reports according  to the following schedule:  

• January 2026: Employer End-of-Year Partner Reporting for 2025 

• January 2027: Employer End-of-Year Partner Reporting for 2026 

A reporting document will be provided by CareerEdge to the person in charge of the grant.  

How and when are the Funds Disbursed? 

The first half of funds are distributed after the contract agreement is fully executed, in July 2025.  Disbursement of the second half is contingent on acceptable performance, as reported in the  organizational and training reports described in the attached agreement and is payable upon written  request by the employer when funds are needed for additional training programs. 

What if I have additional questions? 

The CareerEdge team is here to assist you. Please contact: 

Dan Sidler 

VP of CareerEdge & Economic Development 

dsidler@sarasotachamber.com or 941-556-4045 

Kevin Golumbeck 

CareerEdge Program Manager 

kgolumbeck@sarasotachamber.com or 941-556-4038