CareerSource Florida outlines REACH Act implementation, board consolidation and credential priorities

Adrianne Johnston, president and CEO of CareerSource Florida, presented the network’s implementation of the REACH Act and its work with Florida Commerce to align workforce services, credentials and regional planning.

Johnston described the workforce network as a partnership of 21 local workforce development boards that provide direct services and a state board that provides guidance and funding to the network. She said the REACH Act’s goals—increased access, alignment and accountability—have driven consolidation, credential standardization and performance‑based grading of local boards.

Key implementation items and metrics presented - Board consolidation: CareerSource Florida completed a realignment that reduced local workforce development boards from 24 to 21; as of June 2024 governance, interlocal agreements and administrative arrangements were in place for the consolidated boards. - Master Credentials List and credential review committee: The state’s credential review committee (business, education and government representatives) maintains a master credentials list of industry‑valued credentials. Johnston said the master list now contains 2,307 credentials and that the committee accepts local demand evidence to retain or add credentials in specific localities. - Letter grades and accountability: The REACH Act required development of letter grades for local workforce boards; CareerSource Florida implemented a performance‑based grading framework that uses federal performance metrics and additional state measures to assess local boards and make results public annually. - Program outputs and outcomes: Johnston summarized annual service volumes—CareerSource Florida network provided about 750,000 services to individuals last year, assisted roughly 116,000 Floridians, and reported 63,000 program completers employed with an average wage increase of about $17,400. She said nearly 27,000 participants moved off public assistance after participating in the network’s programs. - Targeted grants: CareerSource Florida administers a suite of targeted grants including incumbent worker training (IWT) and Quick Response Training (QRT). Recent figures cited included roughly $3,000,000 awarded through IWT to upskill nearly 2,800 workers and $6,500,000 in QRT grants to 24 businesses, with awards supporting new hires and rural placements.

Regional planning and priorities: Johnston said the network will implement five additional regional planning areas by June 2025 to align resources, reduce administrative overhead and ensure consistent service delivery across regions.

Examples and pilots: Johnston highlighted an AI incumbent worker training pilot (to reskill mid‑career employees for automation and AI adoption), a veterans Get There Faster initiative, and other targeted investments in rural counties.

Discussion versus decisions: Johnston’s presentation updated the committee on implementation steps taken under the REACH Act; the transcript records no committee vote on the REACH implementation items.

What’s next: CareerSource Florida will continue to roll out regional planning, publish letter grades for local boards, refine the master credentials list and expand targeted grants and pilots to meet employer needs.