St. Petersburg College is part of a job placement initiative, funded by Bank of America, that will develop a collaborative effort among regional academic institutions and employers focused on assisting student of color and those struggling financially to obtain employment.

This initiative also provides employers and industry partners access to a talent pipeline. It will target high-wage, high-demand industries: information technology, business, and financial and professional services.

The program, currently in the works, launches in 2022 with outreach from SPC’s recruiting team to current SPC students nearing graduation. The pilot will later be expanded to three sister institutions – Hillsborough Community College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and the University of South Florida.

Organizers say the program will have benefits for both students and employer partners. Students who take part can conduct career exploration, will receive resume and interview assistance, and can take part in networking opportunities. At the same time, participating employers will have access to highly qualified and prepared career candidates, the opportunity to work with SPC to develop a skilled workforce, and can take part in career fairs where they’ll be able to network with prospective job applicants.

The partnership between SPC and BOA was announced in January 2022. BOA awarded the college a $1 million grant to increase economic mobility in the Tampa Bay region and address the needs of employers in key industries by targeting student job placement.