Workforce System Transformation Update

April 2024

As the Governor's designated organization for workforce policy and investment and in collaboration with the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Office, CareerSource Florida is implementing a three-pillar Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan approved by the state workforce development board. This periodic newsletter includes information and updates on the implementation process. Please visit our REACH Act webpage for more details.

New Interlocal Agreements Demonstrate Continued Momentum

April marks the final three months in the implementation of Phase III of the Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan, as all three key pillars of the plan are set to be completed or have significant progress made by June 30, 2024.

As part of Pillar I, Alignment and Consolidation, ten local workforce development areas will realign or consolidate, affecting 27 counties. Interlocal agreements are finalized or near completion for three areas concerning the following actions:

Realignment of Jefferson County with CareerSource Capital Region.
Realignment of CareerSource North Florida as a five-county region serving Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Hamilton, and Suwanee counties.
Realignment of Monroe County with CareerSource Southwest Florida.

Interlocal agreements provide counties with foundational governance and framework that directs the composition of local workforce development boards. These agreements also allow counties to oversee the fiscal resources and clarify support and responsibilities to fulfill their mission and vision. When a county is added or moved to a different local workforce development area to enhance alignment, all affected counties must approve a new agreement.

These changes will further efforts to join highly interconnected counties to reduce administrative redundancies and maintain or improve economic development alignment to drive regional growth.

Congratulations to the elected leaders, county staff, and local workforce development boards involved in reaching new agreements to enhance services for job seekers and businesses.

Training in April Focuses on Regional Planning

On April 30, monthly elective training for local workforce development boards will highlight regional planning, building on the recent announcement of two Regional Planning Areas approved by Governor DeSantis in March.

The training will cover the benefits of developing a regional approach to assist job seekers and businesses and feature a regional planning overview, including goals and requirements as the calendar year progresses. Additionally, the training will include a review of the administrative policy on regional planning and the steps to formulate a plan with partners.

Florida Workforce System Transformation Overview

Check out this overview of the Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan with all the key information. Click the image below for a downloadable version.

A Closer Look: Realignment Progress

Developing interlocal agreements for areas being realigned under the Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan takes strong planning, coordination, and final approval by each affected county. Specific actions in these areas include:

CareerSource Capital Region

New interlocal agreements are underway with four counties: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla. Leaders are collaborating with county officials to align and finalize a new interlocal agreement with the addition of Jefferson County and to fill two seats on the local workforce development board from that county.

CareerSource North Florida

Updates have been made to the interlocal agreements with five counties in this workforce development area: Madison, Hamilton, Suwanee, Lafayette, and Taylor. Meetings were held with county officials in all areas. CareerSource North Florida will look to fill two seats under the new interlocal agreement. The next steps include final paperwork and filing the agreement with each county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court.

CareerSource Southwest Florida

Updates have been made to the interlocal agreement with six counties in this workforce development area: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Monroe. In February, local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce in Monroe County discussed workforce services and identified two individuals to serve on the local workforce development board from Monroe County. The county will vote on the new members this month. All six counties approved the new interlocal agreement in March, and the agreement was sent to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county for filing. Work is underway to explore physical locations for workforce services in Monroe County.

Please let Garrick Wright, Program Director, know if you have any questions or have additional feedback at [log in to unmask] or (850) 933-7487.   

The CareerSource Florida Network

CareerSource Florida is the statewide workforce policy and investment board. Our partners include the Florida Department of Commerce, local workforce development boards and 100 career centers throughout Florida.

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