The Tampa Housing Authority announced this week that it was approved for a federal grant that will help poor Floridians get better jobs.
The $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will connect people in public housing with education, training and job placement as part of the national Jobs-Plus Initiative.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, who championed the grant, said there a lot of jobs out there that don't have qualified applicants.
"The Jobs Plus Initiative makes sure folks are trained for the jobs that are available right now and this is important because they're often higher paying,” Castor said. “And if you can get someone on track with a higher paying job, you can help life their family out of poverty."
The Tampa Housing Authority is one of only six recipients of the grant nationwide and the only Florida recipient.
"These types of jobs grants are very competitive and we have a very strong track record here in Tampa and the Tampa Housing Authority of fighting for those grants and winning them,” Castor said.
The money will be used in Robles Park in Tampa, a 1600-resident community with several schools, a Boys and Girls Club, Health Clinic and an elderly complex on site.
“We are helping our neighbors who need it the most find jobs and opportunities to lift their families out of poverty,” Castor said. “This investment in our neighbors and our community will help improve job opportunities and increase the likelihood of higher-paying jobs for Robles Park families”.
Other partners in this collaborative effort are CareerSource Tampa Bay, Robles Park Village Resident Council, University Area Community Development Corporation, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough Community College and the Center for Nonprofit and Community Development.
