(Left to right) Deveron Gibbons, Jason Butts, Nathan Stonecipher, Bill Goede, Tonjua Williams, Arielle Richardson, Jesse Turtle, Katherine Cole and Mike Carroll
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg College (SPC) announced a partnership with Bank of America to increase economic mobility in the Tampa Bay region and address the needs of employers in key industries. Bank of America awarded SPC a $1 million grant to support the job placement of students who are near the end of their educational pathway with a focus on students of color and those struggling financially to achieve their career goals.
Over the next three years, SPC is projected to place a minimum of 500 students into high-wage, in-demand careers by building a sustainable talent ecosystem for the future by:
- Developing a concierge-based service delivery model to place students from across the region into employment opportunities targeting information technology, business, and finance and professional services industry sectors
- Creating a centralized alignment office that serves as the primary source of information and translation between business and education across the Tampa Bay region
“SPC is excited to collaborate with Bank of America to strengthen the workforce in the Tampa Bay region by better connecting the talent supply with industry demand,” SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams said. “We know that by working together, we will help students prepare for – and transition into – higher-paying jobs that result in economic prosperity, especially for those with limited means.”
Bank of America last year announced a $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity. The bank’s support of organizations like SPC directly results from this commitment, which focuses on direct action in communities of color where systemic, long-term gaps have existed, and significant change is required to achieve sustainable progress.
“We recognize the importance of connecting young adults with meaningful employment opportunities,” said Bill Goede, president, Bank of America Tampa Bay. “Through our partnership with SPC, we are helping to build a stronger pipeline of diverse talent, contributing to a thriving Tampa Bay community.”
SPC will lead this collaboration among regional education institutions, businesses, and other sector partners taking part in the initiative. SPC is committed to serving the region by helping to improve job placement outcomes for students and improve the speed and efficiency of talent acquisition for employers.
