Bank Of America Awards $1 Million To St. Petersburg College To Strengthen Tampa Bay's Workforce Pipeline

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — St. Petersburg College 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.

“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 is a direct result of 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.

This press release was produced by the St. Petersburg College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.