Hillsborough & Pinellas Boards of County Commissioners approve Interlocal Agreement to combine workforce boards 

Pinellas County and Hillsborough County announce a significant development in the workforce with the approval of an interlocal agreement by both the Pinellas and Hillsborough Boards of County Commissioners. This momentous decision marks the formation of the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium, signaling a transformative step toward consolidating the two influential workforce boards.  
 
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners formally adopted the Interlocal Agreement during its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 14, 2023. Subsequently, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners endorsed the agreement on Nov. 15, 2023, solidifying a shared commitment to advancing regional workforce development.  
 
The initiative to merge CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay into a unified entity was catalyzed by the Reimagining Education and Career Help Act, known as the REACH Act, which became law in June 2021. Following a comprehensive study completed in Feb. 2023, the consolidation recommendation gained momentum and received Governor Ron DeSantis’ endorsement, setting an effective date of July 1, 2024.  
 
In a joint statement, Steve Meier, CEO of CareerSource Pinellas, and John Flanagan, President & CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay (Hillsborough), expressed their optimism: “CareerSource Tampa Bay and CareerSource Pinellas are enthusiastic about the positive impact this consolidation will have on workforce development in the region. The unified effort aims to enhance the delivery of services to job seekers, workers and employers, fostering a more efficient and comprehensive workforce development system.”