Bank of America awarded St. Petersburg College (SPC) $1 million to help students from underserved backgrounds receive job placement services and achieve their career goals while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline.
SPC announced the $1 million grant to provide job placement services for students in high-wage, in-demand careers at an event at the college’s EpiCenter Tuesday. Targeted sectors include information technology, business, finance and professional services. SPC projects the program to serve a minimum of 500 students, focusing on students of color and those with financial hardships.
The grant is part of Bank of America’s (BOA) $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to advancing racial equality and economic opportunity. Dr. Tonjua Williams, president of SPC, said the college is specifically looking for students who are not typically aware of job opportunities in the financial services and professional development industries to enlist in the program.
“I think it’s going to be a major game-changer,” said Williams. “We’ve been focusing on creating an ecosystem for education and workforce, and there’s been a gap of communication and knowledge between what the workforce needs are and how education can prepare the workers for their needs.”
