Community Services

These are ongoing Suncoast Workforce Board (SWB) programs and initiatives addressing current and future needs in our community.

Construction Technology Careers (CTC)
The Construction Technology Careers Initiative is a joint venture among the School Boards of Manatee and Sarasota Counties, local trades organizations and businesses and the SWB.

The mission is to recruit high school juniors and seniors into the preapprenticeship programs at Manatee Technical Institute (MTI) and / or Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI). Students spend half a day at their high school and the other half in courses at MTI or SCTI learning on-the-job safety and basic tool operations for Carpentry, Electricity, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Masonry, Plumbing.

Students may spend the summer in the on-the-job training activities with employers.

After graduation, students are encouraged to pursue apprenticeship training.

Visit the CTC website >

Contact CTC

Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO)
The CEO business-training program is for individuals interested in starting or improving small businesses. It provides core instruction for entrepreneurs to produce a business plan in class time and with one-on-one assistance. Courses include business basics, industry analysis, marketing, operations and financials.

Entrepreneurs who complete the CEO business-training program may be eligible to apply for CEO micro loan funds. Classes are held at NO COST to participants because of a generous sponsorship from Comerica Bank. Representatives of SCORE and the Small Business Development Center located at Manatee Community College's Business Resource Center coordinated the CEO program in partnership with the Suncoast Workforce Board and the City of Sarasota Newtown Redevelopment Office and the city/county Enterprise Zone Development Agency.

For further information on the CEO program contact:

Dru Jones
Economic Development Coordinator
Planning and Redevelopment Department
City of Sarasota - Newtown Redevelopment Office
1782 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: 941-373-7780

Suncoast Education Alliance (SEA)
The Suncoast Alliance of Educational Leaders was established by the Board to serve as a central source for workforce training and educational programs to business and industry in the two county region. Members include the Economic Development Council of the Manatee Chamber, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, New College, Sarasota and manatee School districts, Manatee Community College, Keiser College, University of South Florida and Ringling School of Art and Design.

Janice Mee, Alliance Director.

Early Learning Coalitions (ELC)

The Early Learning program in Florida increases children's chances of achieving the educational levels that help them become productive members of society.

The Vision of the Office of Early Learning is “That Florida’s children are eager to learn and ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten.”

The Mission is “To ensure that all children are emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually ready to enter school and ready to learn, fully recognizing the crucial role of parents as their child's first teacher.”

For more information regarding local Early Learning Coalitions, please visit:

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee - http://www.rc4k.org/

Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota - http://www.earlylearningcoalitionsarasota.org/