Investing in futures: Spring grants focus on workforce education

Through grants in higher education, colleges can develop new pathways to help students or expand services and offerings to best serve the community.

During the Spring Term at Seminole State College of Florida, several grants were awarded that focused on program advancement, adult education, student services and preparing Seminole County’s future workforce. The following grants totaled over $6 million that will help Seminole State expand access to higher education and prepare workforce-ready graduates.

Workforce Development

Seminole State has been awarded $2.8 million for its NextGen Workforce Development Institute, supporting programs including engineering technology, data analytics, welding, air frame maintenance, HVAC, electrician helper programs and more. The Florida Job Growth Grant’s aim is to provide participants with transferable and sustainable workforce skills.

“The Florida Job Growth Grant will be a game changer in expanding our high-demand construction, engineering and trade programs,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Loretta Ovueraye. “As construction needs continue to grow at a rapid pace, it is critical that our students train with the most advanced tools, technology and instruction available. This investment empowers our students to enter the workforce not just prepared—but confident, competitive and ready to make an immediate impact on job sites across our region.”

The Duke Energy Foundation has committed $50,000 to continue development of Seminole State’s Lineworker Boot Camp offered through the College’s Institute for Training. Lineworkers are crucial to the safety and functionality of our communities. This ongoing partnership helps ensure that Florida can continue to meet workforce demands while Institute for Training students receive preparation and certifications that set them up for success in the field. The Preparing Outstanding Workforce Energy Reliability (POWER) grant will help 24 new students start their lineworker journey with Seminole State. 

“Funding for Project POWER is crucial to our ability to continue to train lineworkers to serve the needs of our community for years to come. Our partnership with Duke Energy is a testament to our collective commitment to making our community stronger and more prepared for the challenges of the future, and we are grateful for Duke Energy’s ongoing support,” said Dr. Jennifer Keefe, director of Grants Development & Management at Seminole State.

Seminole State Commits

After the Seminole State Commits program began in 2022, the public has rallied behind it, dedicating funds to continue to bring life-changing education opportunities into the community.

Bank of America has committed $200,000 over two years for the Commits program through its Neighborhood Builders for Central Florida grant. The grant will cover instructional costs, materials, outreach efforts and wraparound services for the Commits program. Funding will also allow the program to offer more workforce training and adult education classes in accessible community locations including Pathways to New Hope, The Sharing Center, Seminole County Department of Health and Goldsboro.

"The Seminole State Commits program was designed to meet community and employer needs and provide family-sustaining incomes," said Associate Vice President of Resource and Economic Development Amy Kirkland. "The generous support from our business and community partners allows the program to continue and grow. Our partners understand that when more adults can meet their educational goals, the workforce grows stronger and we all benefit." 

Westgate Resorts and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association have provided $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for the creation of an Event Planning program to be offered through Seminole State Commits. The eight-week course is currently in development and is expected to launch this fall. The funds will cover materials, supplies and industry software so students can quickly enter the workforce and get up to speed.

Nursing and Certified Nursing Assistant programs

The College’s nursing education program has been awarded $2.6 million from the State of Florida through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) grant and the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) program. These initiatives were designed to ease Florida’s nursing shortage. Seminole State received $1 million in LINE funding this year, and $1,673,695 through PIPELINE. 

Through the work of the Foundation for Seminole State College, AdventHealth and Orlando Health each donated $500,000, for a total of $1 million, which was matched by the State of Florida LINE funds. The state funds are primarily being used for equipment purchases, faculty training, student scholarships, NCLEX prep and new loaner laptops for students in the nursing program. These funds help the College in providing the most up-to-date nursing training so our students can hit the ground running in their career.

"The governor and the Florida Legislature have shown their commitment to nursing education," said Seminole State President Dr. Georgia L. Lorenz. "These funds, along with the partnership and funds provided by AdventHealth and Orlando Health, help us increase the number of highly qualified nurses entering the workforce. This creates economic mobility for our students and better care for our community.”

The demand for nurses remains high, but with that comes a demand for nursing support. The Lennar Foundation recognized that need and awarded the College $250,000 to develop and pilot an accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus with an aim to begin the program in Fall 2026. In addition to preparing students to begin work as a nursing assistant, the program will position them to continue their education within the Health Science career cluster.

Veteran Student Services

Committed to veterans, the Duke Energy Foundation has provided $15,000 to support Seminole State’s Veteran Student Services Office through their America 250 initiatives.

“At Duke Energy, we have a long history of providing career opportunities for veterans, so we know the loyalty, integrity and high-tech skills they bring to any team,” wrote Patty D’Alessandro, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy, in a letter to the editor in the Sanford Herald. “That’s why we’re proud to support Seminole State College’s Mission Finish Line program and empower veterans as they transition from military service to the classroom and, ultimately, new, meaningful professions.”

Overall, the goal of Mission Finish Line is to create an engaged network of student veterans by helping them build connections, develop leadership skills and plan their next steps. The money will also go toward developing the College’s first Veterans Advisory Board to help guide the Veteran Student Services at the College and direct where the College can make the most impact.

Entrepreneurship program

Raiders have bright ideas and the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) is dedicated to helping them bring those ideas to life! Through their Everyday Entrepreneur Program, NACCE provided a $5,000 grant to support the Seminole StartUp competition held on Wednesday, April 15. During the event, students from across the College had the opportunity to pitch their business plan to local entrepreneurs and receive real-time feedback. The three finishers of the Seminole StartUp competition won $4,000 of the grant money, divided among them, to help continue to fund their education or as seed money for their venture. First place went to Nicholas and Savannah De Lima for their business plan, Heirloop, meant to connect family members’ digital memories across platforms.

“At NACCE, we are so happy to see the success Seminole State College has had with its first-ever Everyday Entrepreneur Program and pitch competition. NACCE was proud to be represented at the event by our Executive Vice President of Membership and Workforce Development Dr. Trenton Hightower, who was amazed by the work the College has done to support student entrepreneurs," said Lydia Perez, project coordinator at NACCE. "We look forward to seeing the continued growth of these entrepreneurs and to continuing our collaboration with our amazing partners at Seminole State College”

By supporting these crucial programs, grants help bridge the gap between education and industry. Students can put their education to use faster, supporting themselves and their families while employers benefit from a trained workforce that contributes to both individual and regional economic growth.