JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Department of Economic Opportunity, which pays benefits to unemployed Floridians, proposed cutting funding that helps those people find jobs.
Will Curry from DEO presented state senators at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development with DEO’s Fiscal Year 2021-2022 reduction proposal.
The largest cut of $5.2 million came from the Local Workforce Development Boards, which helps fund CareerSource Florida.
The program provides services like career coaching, resume enhancement and career placement, which State Senator Audrey Gibson said is vital to Florida recouping after the pandemic.
“What drives our economy? People working,” Senator Gibson said.
Nicole Betman, who lost her job as a bartender at the beginning of the pandemic, credits CareerSource with changing her life.
“I looked at their scholarships and they had what I wanted to do which is graphic design,” Betman said. “They paid for my whole entire scholarship”
Senator Annette Taddeo strongly opposed the proposal to cut $5.2 million from the Local Workforce Development Boards.
“They’re actually suggesting a cut to the needy families through the program that gets them back to work,” Taddeo said.
DEO did not respond to FCN’s request for an interview or statement on the subject.