Operation Boost: City partners with FSCJ & WIT for job readiness program

Program designed for low income, homeless & ex-offenders 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One strategy to crack down on crime was discussed Thursday by Jacksonville City Council members.

The city of Jacksonville is partnering with Florida State College at Jacksonville and Workforce Industrial Training for a job readiness and free training program.

Organizers say “Operation Boost” aims to help certain individuals.

The city is looking to give $100,000 to FSCJ and 100,000 to WIT to create a free workforce training program.

The training program will target people released from jail, homeless vets, and low income areas of Jacksonville.

“Individuals that are prone to recidivism. We are going to look for individuals of lower income, underemployed, unemployed, homeless, homeless vets. I’m looking to target the areas that have the highest concentration of crime and violence," said James Coleman with WIT.

Coleman says they just started reaching out to the community on social media on Thursday and people are already signing up, which he says clearly means they’re filling a need.

Fall Open House Friday, October 30, 2020 at 10 a.m. via Zoom ( Click here to register)

To find out more about Operation Boost, visit witjax.com.

Funding:

· $100,000 – Workforce Industrial Training

• Full tuition scholarship to obtain ….

· $100,000 – Florida State College at Jacksonville

• Provide $750 scholarships to 100 students who demonstrate financial need
• Provide $25,000 for wrap-around support for students including access to food pantry, technology needs, child care stipends, and to address other barriers that exist to pursuing and completing higher education and/or workforce training