Collaboratory joins five other Florida communities in Talent Strong Florida High-Value Pathways Initiative, supported by Lumina Foundation
Collaboratory has been selected as one of six grantees in the Talent Strong Florida High-Value Pathways Initiative, a competitive grant program administered by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) and supported by Lumina Foundation.
Collaboratory will receive $50,000 over 18 months to strengthen the region’s career pathways ecosystem, connecting students and families in Southwest Florida with information and guidance on postsecondary credentials that lead to in-demand, well-paying careers.
“This opportunity will strengthen our efforts to advance meaningful, system-level solutions that empower our region to thrive and enhance quality of life for generations to come,” said Jane Gray, Partnership Manager, FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory.
The grant will support Collaboratory’s work to convene cross-sector partners from K-12 education, higher education, business, and workforce development; expand access to high-value pathways information for students, particularly those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds; and align local strategies with the region’s labor market needs.
“Florida’s students need clear, accurate information about the credentials and careers available to them, and they need the regional support systems to help them get there,” said Braulio Colón, FCAN’s executive director. “These six networks are doing the work to make those connections real for students and families in their communities.”
The grantee cohort will convene for the first time at the Talent Strong Florida Summit in Tampa on May 6, 2026.
About Collaboratory
Collaboratory is Southwest Florida’s regional community foundation and convener, committed to coordinating solutions to the region’s most pressing social challenges by 2040. For more than 50 years, we have mobilized philanthropy and stewarded more than $147 million in charitable investments across a five-county region by bringing together nonprofits, education, government, and private-sector partners to drive systems-level change. Through grantmaking, scholarship administration, community research, capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration, we align resources, talent, and data to ensure donor dollars are strategically invested for measurable, lasting impact and a stronger, more resilient Southwest Florida. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.
About Florida College Access Network
Florida College Access Network (FCAN) leads the statewide collaborative movement to strengthen Florida by ensuring every Floridian attains education beyond high school toward a rewarding career. We envision a thriving Florida working together where education is the pathway to economic mobility and a prosperous economy for all. FCAN strives to expand knowledge of research, data, policies, and practices that impact postsecondary access and attainment in Florida. For more information, visit www.floridacollegeaccess.org.
