Chamber speakers explore education for growing workforce | News, Sports, Jobs – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

The Heights Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Kelly and Lee County Economic Development Office Director John Talmage have one thing in common: their concern for Lee County’s ability to educate a workforce to meet future needs.

They addressed the challenges at the SanCap Chamber’s business luncheon on Nov. 13 at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel.

Talmage talked about future industry growth and the aging of today’s workforce to illustrate shortcomings in available skilled trades and medical staffing on the road ahead.

“Unfortunately, right now we’re facing a gap of 200,000 workers from people both retiring and new jobs coming into the area that we have to fill in the next three to five years,” he said. “That’s a lot of workforce. That’s a lot of housing … We just don’t have the educational infrastructure we need to fully prepare our workforce for the future.”

Talmage spoke of government grants and other programs that are targeting the problem through Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University and mentioned a medical school that will open in the near future.

SANCAP CHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber hosted The Heights Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Kelly as one of its guest speakers at its business luncheon on Nov. 13 on Sanibel.

“We can’t build enough schools quickly enough,” he said. “This is all a challenge. But one of the bright lights in all of this has been the Harlem Heights Foundation. Because Kathryn came to me seven-and-a-half years ago … and said, ‘We’re going to build a 60,000-square-foot technical college.’”

Kelly explained how the foundation has progressed from its outreach mission and after-school and summer programs for Harlem Heights students to an elementary school and now to its latest goal to build a $42 million technical school.

“Now we’ve got kids graduating from high school, now what do we do? Because a lot kids aren’t going to college, and we know that, but we want them to get a decent job,” she said. “Our mission is to build self-sufficient families and to do that, you have to have a decent job.”

Before Hurricane Ian caused a serious setback to its plans, the foundation began plotting a way to provide a “decent education” post high school that would prepare students for the needs of the community.

“So, the whole reason we were building a career tech school in Harlem Heights was for our folks in the community,” Kelly said. “It’s going to help everybody in Lee County and Southwest Florida.”

SANCAP CHAMBER
Lee County Economic Development Office Director John Talmage was one of the guest speakers at the SanCap Chamber’s business luncheon on Nov. 13 on Sanibel.

With $18 million left to raise on the project, she hopes to begin construction by March with the goal of starting classes in the fall of 2026. Fields of study will include construction trades, automobile and marine engine labs, health care skills, and culinary arts.

“Every child is valuable, and I believe this career tech school is a bold way of making sure they don’t fall through the cracks,” Kelly said.

“Together, Kathryn and John made a strong case for providing more opportunities to round out the workforce for island businesses and beyond,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “As close to the islands as Harlem Heights is, the community has long staffed our island restaurants, hotels, and service businesses. We must support this effort.”

In other announcements, Lai outlined three new programs through the chamber, in partnership with the Charitable Foundation of the Islands and others, that will help island businesses procure low-interest loans for hurricane recovery.

The luncheon was sponsored by R.L.R. Investments. New Director of Commercial Leasing and Community Relations Ali Kendall spoke about the firm’s community commitment, including the announcement of the Village Wine Bar & Bistro to open in the Village Shops next year.