Eckerd Connects: Closing the Opportunity Gap by Connecting People, Employers, and Communities to Build Stronger Economies

Workforce development is more than training—it’s the connective tissue that drives opportunity, stability, and growth.

By Michael D. Smith

When I think about the future of work in this country, I don’t see a skills gap—I see an opportunity gap. Every day, I meet young people and adults who have the drive and potential to succeed. What too many lack isn’t talent, but gateways to connections and possibilities. At the heart of workforce development is connecting people to careers, connecting employers to their next workforce generation, and connecting communities to a stronger economic future. Closing that gap requires real investment and a shared commitment across sectors to create programs and partnerships that turn potential into progress.

At Eckerd Connects, we are proud to be one of the few non-profit providers in the workforce development space. That matters because our approach is grounded in mission—not margin. Each year, we serve more than 24,000 children, youth, and families across 14 states and Washington, D.C. and reach more than 250,000 job seekers annually. We take a dual-customer approach—helping individuals access education, career coaching, mentoring, and wraparound support, while partnering with employers to design customized training that reduces costly turnover and fills critical jobs. Nationally, U.S. employers spend over $4,700 per new hire on recruitment. Our solutions save money, build stronger pipelines, and prepare new hires to contribute from day one.

In Denver, our partnership with the Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Committee has created a learn-and-earn pathway where every apprentice is employed full time and provided the wraparound supports needed to succeed. Nationally, apprentices see their earnings increase by nearly 50 percent over the course of an apprenticeship. In Colorado, employers investing in registered apprenticeship programs report a 44 percent return on investment for every dollar spent, with apprentices starting at wages well above minimum wage and progressing steadily as they gain skills. That’s the power of connecting education, employers, and support systems into one seamless model.

Real progress comes when we tear down silos and bring people together around one table—employers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders—to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing our society. It’s about building enduring partnerships and aligning resources so that when opportunities arise, we can respond with real solutions.

In Jacksonville, that means partnering with employers—from farms to collision centers to tech repair shops—to create hands-on work experiences that build skills and strengthen the local economy. In Kentucky and Indiana, it looks like embedding workforce career coaches in Goodwill centers, adult education programs, and even jails—bridging systems and state lines to deliver wraparound support and real opportunity.

And in California, it looks like Madison’s story. As a high school student eager to work but struggling to secure her first job, Madison joined our Support, Training, and Employment Program (STEP) program. With coaching, interview preparation, and support to earn her Food Handler’s Certificate, she not only gained her first work experience but turned it into permanent employment. Today, she continues to grow while preparing for community college—proof of how early connections create a lasting impact for young people and local businesses alike.

This matters now more than ever. By 2031, nearly one in four American workers will be over the age of 55, and in fields like healthcare, transportation, electrical, and skilled trades, retirements will outpace new entrants. Unless we act together, communities will face shortages that strain growth and limit opportunity.

For more than five decades, Eckerd Connects has focused on removing barriers that keep families from reaching their full potential. Our work embraces both a dual-customer and a two-generation approach—supporting parents and children together through education, job training, and childcare, alongside youth, adults, and employers. This whole-community framework recognizes that success is interconnected.

Whether in Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, California, or any of the states where we serve, Eckerd Connects builds relationships with employers, chambers of commerce, economic development councils, community colleges, and local partners—helping to break cycles of poverty and create lasting economic stability. Research shows that when workforce and economic development systems align, training programs see higher participation and completion rates, worker earnings rise, and local economies become more resilient.

At the end of the day, this work is about more than filling jobs—it’s about building futures and strengthening families. It’s about ensuring America has a strong, stable, and skilled workforce for decades to come. Workforce development is how we keep America’s promise alive: not just the promise of a job, but the promise of a better life.