The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) recently announced that CareerSource Palm Beach County has been named the 2023 Workforce Employer of the Year.Â
NAWDP provides education, resources, and certification credibility to individuals seeking to thrive as thought leaders and innovators in the workforce development industry. As the leading advocate for workforce development professionals, NAWDP builds relationships and connections with other industry-leading organizations to challenge and collaborate for the advancement of the industry. The NAWDP is the heartbeat of workforce development.
Melissa Robbins
“The Workforce Employer of the Year award recognizes a private-sector employer or employer consortium who partners and collaborates with their local workforce partners to create a positive impact in their local area,†said Melissa Robbins, NAWDP’s Chief Executive Officer. “CareerSource Palm Beach County has developed a lucrative partnership with the Palm Beach County Business Development Board that has increased the opportunities for jobseekers and businesses in the community.”
CareerSource Palm Beach County is the nonprofit organization chartered by the state to lead workforce development in Palm Beach County. During the past five program years, CareerSource Palm Beach County assisted nearly 45,000 residents find employment/reemployment ranging from entry-level to executive suite, with salaries from these jobs creating $700 million in annual wages. CareerSource also awarded $14.7 million in grants to area businesses and employees for job training and educational assistance during that time.
The two organizations work in partnership using comprehensive labor market information/analysis, job candidate sourcing, training grants, and placement support to attract, retain, and help businesses expand.
CareerSource Palm Beach County and the Business Development Board have convened/facilitated various collaborative programs in the Glades communities, including providing $1.7 million in grants to local employers and residents for training and educational assistance over the past 5 years. This, along with comprehensive job placement, hiring, and recruiting services provided by CareerSource Palm Beach County’s Belle Glade career center, has helped to significantly reduce area unemployment.
artistic rendering of FinFrock plant
One effort of the partnership includes the recruitment of FinFrock, a major precast concrete manufacturer, to Belle Glade. This project will create more than 200 jobs with salaries starting at $19/hour with fully paid medical benefits. It is projected to bring a $242 million economic impact to the Glades communities.
The partnership has been fruitful with new industry data showing Palm Beach County as home to 463 corporate, subsidiary and regional offices, 2,897 financial services and hedge funds, 1,628 aviation/aerospace/engineering companies, 2,189 infotech companies, 5,496 healthcare companies, 682 distribution and logistics centers, and 1,424 manufacturing companies.
Julia Dattolo
“We are incredibly pleased and proud that our achievements arising from our partnership with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County have been nationally recognized with this award,†said Julia Dattolo, President and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach County. “Our partnership has created a much more diversified, high-quality employer base, making our economy more resilient – and contributing to record low unemployment rates for more than a year.â€
This is the second national award CareerSource Palm Beach County has recently received. The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) presented their national Trailblazer Award to CareerSource PBC in 2021. The award recognizes a workforce board that has been a leader in developing comprehensive workforce solutions for its communities.
In addition to today’s award, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County received nearly 10 national, state and local awards since 2022. The BDB also is one of only 66 in the world to be an Accredited Economic Development Board and has been internationally recognized in the past for marketing strategies and programs.
Kelly Smallridge
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is the official public/private economic development organization for Palm Beach County. Founded in 1982 as a not-for-profit corporation, our primary purpose is to attract and retain new industry, business investment, high quality jobs and workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions and international trade. During the past five years, the BDB has assisted companies that have created more than 12,822 direct jobs with average salaries greater than $69,062, resulting in more than $777 million in capital investment to Palm Beach County and an economic impact that exceeds $6.87 billion.
“CareerSource Palm Beach County has been an impactful partner of the Business Development Board’s economic development efforts and it’s an honor to receive this prestigious award together. This partnership will continue to stimulate economic energy and enrich the vitality of Palm Beach County as more corporate citizens relocate to and expand in the Palm Beaches,†said Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB).