Are you unemployed or low-income? Have you been laid off or received a notice of lay-off? If so, you might qualify for a WIOA-Pinellas government grant that can really help you get trained, certified and placed in your new job. There is no out-of-pocket for you. Let’s see if you are eligible!
With the number of computer networks doubling every five years, the job demand for IT workers continues to heat up for this high paid career. If you qualify you can use the grant to get the certifications the employers we work with are looking for|: CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, VMware and more
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Security Analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much stronger than average. Cyberseek.org’s supply and demand heat map shows over 550,000 job openings across the United States. Some markets are stronger than others. The Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg job market pays well, because it has over 7,000 job openings and the number of certified workers is very small. The cyber-crime epidemic is expected to triple the number of job openings over the next five years. Employers desperately need workers who are certified in Security+, CISSP, Certified Security Analyst (CySA), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA PenTest+
If you have prior management experience, one of the strongest job opportunities is in project management. In the Tampa/St. Petersburg job market the need is especially strong for project managers and pays quite well. The Project Management Professional (PMP) is the most sought after certification for this field. CIO ranked this certification number four for 2023. Other top certifications in this field include ITIL, Agile Master, and Scrum Master
Every year, more companies are realizing the benefits Business Analysts provide. Because of this, the Business Analyst job market is expected to grow at a rate of 19% over the next 10 years! With that type of growth, companies are already competing for every Business Analyst they can find and pay good salaries. One of the most dramatic changes to this field is the need for business intelligence skills, like Excel, and Power BI. Organizations now mostly depend on data analysis technologies like Big Data analysis for business growth. With the right certifications, business analysts will get the business intelligence skills they need to excel in their careers.
Responsible administrative assistants perform several administrative jobs and clerical tasks. Duties include providing assistance to managers and employees, assisting in every day office needs and being responsible for the company’s general administrative duties. The more qualified administrative assistants can make a surprisingly good income if they have the necessary requirements. Certifications like Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) can really help to move up in this profession.
Instead of having us talk about ourselves, why don’t we see what our clients have to say.
It is called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). it is a jobs program. WIOA provides free training grants to aid workers get trained, certified and placed in big demand fields such as information technology, cyber-security, business analysis, project management and more. The idea is that there are fields in which there are not enough certified workers and there are declining fields in which there are too many people. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) addresses this problem by providing free funding for career training in big demand fields to those who qualify for this grant. This training is intended to make your skills marketable so you can get a job and return to the workforce. This is a grant, not a loan. If you are eligible, everything is paid for, even the exam. The amounts vary by county but can be as high as $10,000 depending where you live.
The WIOA-Pinellas grant is a jobs program so you must pick something where there is a high expectation of employment. Each county has a regionally targeted occupations list (RTOL) to choose from. They want to make sure you select a career that is in high demand. For each approved career, there will be approved training programs to choose from.
The 3 most common classes are: Dislocated Worker, Adult Low Income and Youth (18 -25). If you have been laid off (or your position was eliminated or you were let go because of a reduction in force) from your last job, terminated, received a layoff notice or are a military spouse you might get approved as a Dislocated worker. If you are on Food Stamps or government assistance, or have low income based on what you have earned the last six months and number of people in your family, then you could get approved under Adult Low Income. For youths age 18-24, you might get approved if you are not enrolled in school. You must also be found to be “suitable.” This is not an automatic approval. The process is arduous so it is best to talk with us first to see if you are eligible.
if you qualify for a WIOA-Pinellas grant, you want a program that can be completed in a short period of time that will raise your marketability enough to help get you a job. We look at the best ways to take advantage of your experience to add a certification that will make you attractive to employers and easier to place. Some career choices are ideal for this: cyber-security, information technology, project management, business analyst, human resources, executive secretaries and administrative assistants etc.
There is no cost to you if you qualify. Nothing to pay or any out of pocket expenses. This is a grant, not a loan. Even the exam(s) are paid for. So what is the catch? We will be working with an extremely bureaucratic government agency. The process is as clear as mud. Many schools are reluctant to work with WIOA if they can avoid doing so. I strongly recommend you consult with an expert.
Yes! The whole purpose of this program is to help you get a job. We have partnered with a staffing firm that has devoted a person to work at our facility exclusively with our clients. She assists with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview skills and most importantly, getting your information in front of hiring managers. We work with over 3,000 employers in Central Florida who use us for their training requirements. A lot of them recruit from us so we get many job leads that are not available to the general public. Over half the jobs we have helped place people in are not even advertised.
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