The Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation is proud to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to support its ongoing efforts in talent, education, and workforce development across the region.
Tallahassee is at a pivotal moment in workforce development. While the region boasts a growing economy and a diverse talent pool, gaps remain in aligning job seekers with employers’ evolving needs. Many businesses continue to rely on traditional hiring methods that emphasize degrees over skills, limiting access to qualified talent and hindering economic mobility. Additionally, industries with high-demand jobs, such as healthcare, face persistent workforce shortages that require more strategic talent pipeline development.
To address these challenges, the Chamber Foundation is committed to elevating comprehensive talent and workforce development initiatives that bridge the gap between job seekers, educators, and employers. Grant funds from this initiative will directly support programs designed to strengthen skills-based hiring, develop talent pipelines, and foster collaboration among workforce partners.
“Truist is excited to continue to further invest in our long-standing partnership with The Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation, which supports one of our Foundation’s significant pillars, Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility,” said Chris Mills, Market President with Truist. “The Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation is committed to building an ecosystem to connect talent to local employers to positively impact the workforce in our community and we want to stack hands on this endeavor for our community. The Chamber Foundation’s continued efforts to support job creation and connectivity in our region aligns well with the Truist Purpose to Build Better Lives and Communities.”
Sue Dick, President/CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation, emphasized the importance of the grant,
“This investment from the Truist Foundation is a powerful endorsement of our mission to build a more inclusive and responsive workforce ecosystem. By focusing on skills-based hiring and strategic pipeline development, we are not only helping employers find the talent they need—we’re also creating pathways to economic mobility for individuals across our community. This grant will accelerate our efforts to connect education, training, and employment in meaningful ways.”
Initiatives Supported by the Grant Include:
- Skills-Based Hiring and Employee Practices
Utilizing the Jobs for the Future (JFF) framework, the Chamber Foundation will continue offering workshop series for employers interested in implementing skills-based hiring practices. These workshops cover the full employee lifecycle—from job descriptions and postings to hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies. - Talent Pipeline Management (TPM)
The Foundation will expand TPM collaboratives with Tallahassee State College, Lively Technical College, and Leon County Schools to create dedicated pipelines to high-need jobs in healthcare and other critical sectors. - Talent Development Council (TDC)
Funding will support the work of the TDC, a coalition of workforce development partners including CareerSource Capital Region, Tallahassee State College, Lively Technical College, the Office of Economic Vitality, Able Trust/Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Leon County Schools. Monthly meetings focus on coordination, training, stakeholder engagement, and content creation.
For more information on the Chamber Foundation’s talent initiatives ,contact Corrie Melton, Vice President of Talent Development at cmelton@talchamber.com.
