CareerSource Tampa Bay

What CareerSource Tampa Bay does

CareerSource Tampa Bay is a public, non-profit local workforce development board designated under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to serve Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Florida. Formed through the November 2023 interlocal agreement and effective July 1, 2024, the consolidated Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Board manages a combined budget of $36.1 million and operates a network of seven physical career centers (Tampa, Brandon, Ruskin, Plant City, Gulf to Bay/Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs) plus an administrative headquarters. The organization provides no-cost workforce services to job seekers (resume development, career coaching, skills training, certifications) and to employers (recruitment, apprenticeship coordination, on-the-job training reimbursement up to 50%, rapid response for layoffs), with specialized programs for veterans, youth (Summer P.A.Y.S., ACE), persons with disabilities (Ticket to Work), justice-involved individuals (CARE Re-Entry), migrant farmworkers, and TANF/SNAP recipients.

The technology stack is modest and largely outsourced: job matching is delivered through the state-level Employ Florida portal, while proprietary tools include the Career Pathways Portal (career exploration with salary, demand, and training data for Hillsborough County) and the Career Clarity Pod, a VR-based career simulation tool covering ten industries. A Virtual Career Center provides 24/7 access to 130+ industry-recognized certifications. No proprietary AI/ML models, APIs, or SDKs are documented, and the organization relies on Zoom for virtual workshops and Manpower for payroll processing in the Summer P.A.Y.S. program.

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: 93% of total awards ($38.6 million as of September 2025) come from federal sources (Department of Labor, HHS, USDA), with additional state workforce grants, county pass-through funding, and supplemental private grants (e.g., $50,000 from Community Foundation Tampa Bay). Services are provided at no cost to both job seekers and employers, with no pricing model, no subscription or fee structure, and no commercial revenue stream. The board is governed by a consortium of Chief Local Elected Officials from Hillsborough and Pinellas County Commissions, with leadership under President & CEO Keidrian Kunkel.

Name

CareerSource Tampa Bay

Legal name

CareerSource Tampa Bay

Website

https://careersourcetampabay.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CareerSource Tampa Bay is a public, non-profit workforce development board serving Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Florida. It delivers no-cost job placement, career training, and employer recruitment services across seven career centers, funded primarily through federal WIOA grants totaling approximately $38.6 million annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Career Transition, Re-entry & Employability Support (Mid-career, Returnships) (EDAAAKAN), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Career training programs
• Veteran employment services
• Youth apprenticeship programs
• Employer recruitment solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Workforce Grants: CareerSource Tampa Bay is a government-funded workforce development board. The organization receives federal funding primarily through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), along with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. Total awards as of September 2025 amount to approximately $38.6 million.
2. Combined Budget (Hillsborough/Pinellas): Following the merger of workforce boards effective July 1, 2024, the consolidated entity manages a combined budget of $36.1 million for regional workforce development operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CareerSource Tampa Bay operates as the designated local workforce development board serving Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Florida, delivering no-cost career placement, training, and employer recruitment services across 7 physical career centers and virtual platforms. The organization runs WIOA-funded programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth, plus specialized initiatives including Summer P.A.Y.S. (youth summer employment), Get There Faster Grant (veterans and military spouses), ACE Apprenticeship, CARE Re-Entry (justice-involved), Ticket-to-Work (persons with disabilities), Disaster Worker Grants, and Rapid Response services for business layoffs.

Product overview

CareerSource Tampa Bay is a workforce development organization operating as a network of physical career centers and online services across Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Florida. The organization functions as a service-delivery platform offering multiple interconnected programs including job search assistance, career counseling, vocational training, youth employment services (Summer P.A.Y.S., WIOA Youth), veteran services (Get There Faster Grant, Veterans Networking Group), apprenticeship programs (ACE), and employer-focused solutions (On-the-Job Training, Rapid Response). The portfolio includes specialized programs targeting specific populations: Ticket-to-Work for people with disabilities, SNAP Education and Training, Welfare Transition (TANF), CARE Re-Entry for justice-involved individuals, and Disaster Worker Grants. The organization also provides virtual services, the Career Pathways Portal for career exploration, and the Career Clarity Pod VR tool. Since July 1, 2024, CareerSource Tampa Bay serves as the unified workforce development board for the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium, managing a combined budget of $36.1 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summer P.A.Y.S. Summer employment and training program (Preparing Area Youth for Success) for eligible youth ages 16-24 in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
• ACE (Apprenticeship-to-Career Empowerment)
• Get There Faster
• CARE (Career Assistance and Reintegration Program)

Products and services

• Career Centers Network of 7 physical career center locations providing job search assistance, career counseling, computer access, and workforce development services across Tampa Bay.
• Virtual Services / Virtual Career Center Online workforce services platform offering 24/7 access to career tools, 130+ industry-recognized certifications, skill-matching, and virtual job search assistance accessible from any location without travel expenses.
• WIOA Programs Federally-funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs providing individualized career services, occupational skills training with tuition assistance, and on-the-job training for adults, dislocated workers, and youth.
• Youth Services / Youth Connections Workforce services for youth ages 16-24 including tutoring, leadership development, occupational training, career guidance, and tuition assistance, serving out-of-school youth and young adults in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
• Summer P.A.Y.S. (Preparing Area Youth for Success) Summer employment and training program for eligible youth ages 15-24 in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties; participants earn $15 per hour working part or full time over a six-week period while receiving career coaching and professional development.
• Veteran Services Employment services for veterans including career counseling, job placement assistance, resume development, labor market information, and priority of service at all CareerSource locations, including dedicated Veterans Networking Groups.
• Get There Faster Grant Grant program providing accelerated training, on-the-job training, and occupational skills training for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses across the Tampa Bay region.
• Veteran Employment Programs (MFEA & TAP) Suite of programs including Military Family Employment Advocacy (MFEA) and Transition Assistance Program (TAP) partnership with MacDill Air Force Base, providing career planning, resume writing, interview training, and job placement for veterans and military families.
• Ticket to Work Social Security Administration program assisting SSDI/SSI recipients ages 18-64 with career planning, job search assistance, and work incentives to help people with disabilities return to meaningful work.
• ACE (Apprenticeship-to-Career Empowerment) Apprenticeship program reaching young adults ages 18-29 from low-income households, connecting them with apprenticeship opportunities and occupational skills training including construction, healthcare, IT, and other industry pathways.
• Disaster Worker Grant Temporary disaster-relief employment program providing positions at $17.50+ per hour for individuals laid off due to hurricanes, including cleanup and recovery, crisis and trauma support, and humanitarian assistance roles for six-month periods.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) Employer-focused program reimbursing up to 50% of training costs for new employees; employers receive pre-screened candidates and CareerSource Tampa Bay pays a portion of wages during the training period.
• Job Quality in Tampa Bay Framework helping employers assess and improve job quality through four pillars: Pay and Benefits, Career Training and Advancement, Workplace Culture and Environment, and Employee and Family Support, including an employer toolkit, workshops, and Good Jobs Dashboard.
• CARE (Career Assistance and Re-Entry) Program Partnership with Abe Brown Ministries providing comprehensive workforce training, job placement, supportive services, and personal development for Hillsborough County citizens returning from incarceration.
• SNAP Education and Training Program Employment and training program for SNAP beneficiaries classified as Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD), including 80 hours monthly of employment activities, job search training, and vocational education.
• Welfare Transition Program (TANF) Mandatory program for Temporary Cash Assistance recipients focusing on upskilling, job readiness, and personal responsibility through community service, work experience, job search training, and vocational training.
• Job Boards Online job search platform connecting job seekers to available positions, integrating with Employ Florida for customized job search, job market trends, salary comparison tools, and occupation research.
• Rapid Response Services Business assistance program helping companies facing layoffs or closures, including Incumbent Worker Training, Short-Time Compensation, On-the-Job Training, Paid Work Experience, and WARN Act coordination services.
• Professional Networking Group (PNG) Monthly professional networking program for job seekers with four-year degrees or five years of management experience, providing guest speakers, resume workshops, LinkedIn training, and connections to local employers.
• Employability Skills Training Workshops Free workforce preparation workshops covering resume writing, interviewing skills, job application techniques, and career planning; available in-person and virtually across Hillsborough and Pinellas County locations.
• Career Pathways Portal Online career exploration tool for high-demand sectors in Hillsborough County providing information on entry-level to expert-level salaries, local job demand, diversity data, top posting industries, job duties, required skills, and approved training programs.
• Career Clarity Pod (VR) Virtual reality career exploration tool providing hands-on simulations of different career paths across industries including manufacturing, warehousing, skilled trades, public safety, hospitality, diesel technology, aviation, electrical construction, healthcare, and automotive.
• Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Program Outreach, job search assistance, placement services, and supportive services referrals for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the Tampa Bay region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,950 individuals served
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2023Following the merger of workforce boards, the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium was formed through an interlocal agreement between the two county commissions. The consolidated entity manages a combined budget of $36.1 million and became effective July 1, 2024.
• Abe Brown MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to implement the CARE (Career Assistance and Reintegration for Ex-offenders) program providing comprehensive workforce training, job placement, and supportive services for Hillsborough County citizens returning from incarceration.
• MacDill Air Force BasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Military Family Employment Advocacy Program (MFEA) and Transition Assistance Program (TAP) providing priority employment services to military family members and retiring service members.
• CareerSource PolkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the $3.1 million Get There Faster grant to expand educational opportunities for Veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses across the Tampa Bay region.
• Airborne Maintenance and Engineering ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey employer partner under the Troops to Technician program providing career pathways to high-demand aviation positions with FAA Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) certifications.
• Pemco ConversionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey employer partner under the Troops to Technician program providing career pathways to high-demand aviation positions with FAA certifications.
• Manpower Staffing SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPayroll processing partner for Summer P.A.Y.S. program, handling participant wages and timesheet tracking for the youth employment initiative.
• ULOC Community NetworkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNon-profit partner providing temporary disaster relief employment opportunities for individuals laid off due to recent hurricanes affecting Tampa Bay area.
• Corporation To Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNon-profit partnered with Disaster Worker Grant program providing temporary employment and recovery support following hurricanes.
• Hillsborough County Health Care PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing information about comprehensive free managed care program for Hillsborough County residents with limited income and assets.
• Good Jobs InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry expert partnership for the Job Quality in Tampa Bay initiative, providing best practices workshops on good jobs strategy.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CareerSource Polk: Sibling Florida WIOA-designated workforce development board covering Polk County. CareerSource Tampa Bay partners with CareerSource Polk on the $3.1M Get There Faster grant, indicating directly comparable service models, funding structures, and target populations within the same state system.
• Eckerd Connects: National nonprofit providing workforce development, juvenile services, and adult education programs. CEO Keidrian Kunkel previously served as Senior Director of Operations at Eckerd Connects leading multi-state workforce initiatives, indicating near-identical operating models for at-risk youth, veterans, and re-entry populations.
• EmployIndy: Regional workforce development board serving Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. Operates the same WIOA-funded One-Stop model with career centers, employer services, and population-specific programs (youth, veterans, re-entry), serving as a structural peer in a different labor market.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: The largest workforce development board in the U.S., serving Cook County, Illinois under the same WIOA American Job Center framework. Directly comparable operating model, funding structure, and service mix (career centers, employer services, sector-based training) at significantly larger scale.
• Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County: WIOA-designated workforce development board for King County, Washington. Operates a comparable network of career centers, employer engagement programs, and youth/adult training initiatives, making it a structural peer in a different regional labor market.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating mission-driven workforce development, job training, and placement services for people facing barriers to employment — directly overlapping CareerSource Tampa Bay's veteran, disability, and re-entry service lines, but at national scale across hundreds of local Goodwill agencies.
• Equus Workforce Solutions: National workforce services contractor operating WIOA programs, career centers, and re-entry/justice-involved employment services under government contracts. Operates the same Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act delivery model as CareerSource Tampa Bay but across multiple states as a contracted operator.

Emerging players

• Sourcewise: California-based nonprofit providing workforce services for older adults and individuals with disabilities, including Ticket-to-Work program administration. Directly comparable to CareerSource Tampa Bay's Ticket-to-Work and disability employment offerings but with a narrower population focus.

Others

• Employ Florida: Florida's statewide virtual job-matching platform that CareerSource Tampa Bay integrates with for employer-job-seeker matching. Functions as both an enabler (referral channel) and a partial substitute for CareerSource Tampa Bay's own job board functionality.

Regional players

• Hillsborough Community College: Public community college serving Hillsborough County with workforce certificates, technical training, and apprenticeship pathways that directly overlap CareerSource Tampa Bay's occupational skills training and ACE apprenticeship offerings in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CareerSourceHP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdjmikyzfDs-vZztUdNOleg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CareerSourceHillsboroughPinellas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/careersource-hillsborough-pinellas
• Instagraminstagram.com/careersourcehp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CareerSource Tampa Bay