CareerSource Hosts Rapid Response Recovery For Job Seekers

TAMPA, FL – This week, CareerSource Tampa Bay kicked off the Rapid Response Recovery (R3) program that will help Hillsborough County job seekers with occupational skills training and find businesses skilled labor.

The R3 program is funded through the Federal Cares Act with funding released by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

CSTB will be signing up 2,100 job seekers to participate in short-term and on-the-job training. The goal of the job seeker program is to help give workers adversely affected by the coronavirus retraining to improve their skills and make them more marketable among key industry sectors in Hillsborough County.

Up to 1,000 people can take advantage of the short-term training program. Training scholarships will provide up to $5,000 educational assistance. Another 1,100 job seekers will be provided on-the-job training.

To qualify, job seekers must be Hillsborough County residents, economically injured due to the coronavirus, 18 years of age or older and must be a U.S. citizen or authorized to work.

Documentation will be required to verify eligibility criteria. Job seekers can register at here.

There is no cost to Hillsborough employers participating in the program. Employers can receive a retention incentive and can benefit from trained employees in a targeted occupation. The program will directly pay or reimburse 100 percent of the first $12,000 of employee salary up to the first 90 days.

Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria:
• Eligible positions must meet Florida minimum wage requirements
• Employee worksite location must be in Hillsborough County
• Eligible businesses must be for-profit businesses in Hillsborough County
• In operation for at least one year
• Businesses must have suffered economic impact due to the coronavirus outbreak

The goal for employers will be to allow CSTB to continue to create a skilled workforce, in the areas of most need, that will give Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region a distinct advantage in business retention, expansion and attraction.

Employers can participate in the program by clicking on this link.