Venice Gondolier: $150k grant given to CareerEdge

The following article appeared in the Venice Gondolier on July 9, 2025:

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has given a $150,000 grant to CareerEdge to help its “Funders Collaborative’s initiatives in providing an exceptional labor force to growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships,” it stated in a news release.

“This generous grant, made possible through the Maria Haber Charitable Fund, further solidifies the longstanding partnership between CareerEdge and Gulf Coast,” it stated. “As one of CareerEdge’s founding funders, Gulf Coast has continuously played an active role in advancing their mission.”

The grant helps CareerEdge with its Fast-Track and on-the-job training along with internship reimbursement and funding to help employers improve the skills of their employees.

“CareerEdge is proud to continue its longstanding funding partnership with Gulf Coast Community Foundation,” CareerEdge & Economic Development Vice President Dan Sidler stated in the news release. “This investment directly fuels high-impact workforce programs that address critical skills gaps for local employers, while empowering individuals to gain in-demand training, launch meaningful careers, and improve their long-term financial stability. The ripple effects of this support are felt across the region—in businesses, in households, and throughout our economy.”

CareerEdge began in 2010, it noted. The news release states that it and its partners have invested $18.5 million so far, helping train more than 8,100 employees and $42 million in workers’ aggregate annual earnings, it stated.

“In 2024 alone, CareerEdge and partners invested $1.3 million in workforce development, resulting in 486 workers trained, $2.1 million in added wages, created 117 new jobs, provided 213 new employment opportunities, and 594 new certifications were earned,” the news release stated.