Real Skills. Real Jobs. Real Economic Mobility.
iCare Foundation is developing a Job Training & Resume Coaching program to serve working adults across Greater Tampa Bay — particularly ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) who earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but too little to build financial stability. These are the working people who keep our community running but cannot get ahead on their own.
Our program will combine sector-based job training with hands-on resume coaching, interview preparation, and direct employer connections — giving participants not just skills, but a clear pathway to a living-wage job. Grounded in the Two-Generation (2Gen) framework, every economic gain for a parent is a gain for the entire family.
Greater Tampa Bay's Working Poor Are Being Left Behind
In Hillsborough County, 43% of households are ALICE or below the poverty line — working adults and families who are one car repair or medical bill away from crisis. These are not people who lack work ethic. They lack access to the training, credentials, and professional networks that turn entry-level jobs into careers.
Traditional workforce programs often serve only the unemployed. iCare's model is designed for the underemployed — the cashier who wants to become a medical assistant, the warehouse worker who wants to move into logistics management, the parent who wants a job that actually pays enough to support their family. We meet people where they are and help them get where they deserve to go.
Why Funders Prioritize Workforce Development
The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funds $3+ billion annually in workforce training grants. Bank of America's Workforce Development initiative, JPMorgan Chase's New Skills at Work, and CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas all identify sector-based training as a top funding priority — and Greater Tampa Bay's ALICE population represents a documented, fundable need.
of Hillsborough County households are ALICE or below the poverty line
of adults without training remain stuck in low-wage jobs
Higher wages for completers vs. non-participants in workforce programs
Average annual wage increase for workforce training completers
How the Job Training Program Will Work
Resume Building & Interview Prep
Participants will receive one-on-one resume coaching, cover letter support, and interview preparation — moving from application to offer with the professional polish that low-wage workers are rarely given access to.
Sector-Based Job Training
Structured training tracks aligned to high-demand local industries — including healthcare support, logistics, construction trades, and hospitality — giving participants a direct pathway to living-wage employment.
Cohort-Based Peer Learning
Participants move through training in cohorts, building the professional networks, accountability structures, and peer support that research identifies as critical to long-term workforce success.
Employer Connections & Job Placement
iCare will cultivate direct partnerships with Greater Tampa Bay employers committed to hiring program graduates — creating warm handoffs from training to employment rather than leaving participants to navigate hiring alone.
What the Research Shows Workforce Training Achieves
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor ETA, Urban Institute, Aspen Institute
Participants in workforce programs find employment within 6 months
DOL ETA
Higher wages for completers vs. non-participants
Urban Institute
Improved job retention with wraparound support services
Aspen Institute
Average annual wage increase for workforce training completers
DOL ETA
Economic Mobility That Lifts the Whole Family
iCare Foundation's workforce programs are built on the Two-Generation (2Gen) model — the evidence-based approach that addresses economic barriers for both parents and children simultaneously. When a parent gains a living-wage job, the entire family's trajectory changes: better housing stability, better nutrition, better educational outcomes for children.
Job training is not a standalone service in our model. It integrates with our food security, education, and family strengthening programs to create a comprehensive pathway out of poverty — not just a single step forward.
View All Career Development ProgramsThe 2Gen Impact Chain
Parent Enters Training
Skills, credentials, professional network built
Living-Wage Employment
Income stability, reduced reliance on assistance
Housing & Food Security
Family stabilizes, stress on children reduces
Children Thrive
Better attendance, grades, and long-term outcomes
Three Ways to Make This Program a Reality
Fund the Program
Your donation helps us build the curriculum, hire qualified instructors, and create the employer partnerships this program needs to launch and serve working adults across Greater Tampa Bay.
Donate NowBecome an Employer Partner
Businesses committed to economic equity can partner with iCare to hire program graduates, provide job shadowing opportunities, or offer professional mentors for participants.
Explore PartnershipsVolunteer Your Expertise
HR professionals, hiring managers, and career coaches can volunteer their expertise — leading resume workshops, conducting mock interviews, or serving as industry mentors.
Get InvolvedHelp Greater Tampa Bay's Working Families Get Ahead
The need is documented. The model is evidence-based. iCare Foundation has the community roots to make this program work. What we need now is the funding and the partnerships to bring it to life.
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