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Heart of Florida joins five other Florida communities in Talent Strong Florida High-Value Pathways Initiative, supported by Lumina Foundation
UpliftED, the region’s Local College Access Network and Heart of Florida United Way’s Education Collective has been selected as one of six grantees in the Talent Strong Florida High-Value Pathways Initiative. Through this competitive opportunity, upliftED will receive $50,000 over 18 months to help strengthen Central Florida’s career pathways ecosystem by connecting students and families with information, resources, and guidance on postsecondary credentials that lead to high-demand, family-sustaining careers.
The initiative is administered by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) and supported by the Lumina Foundation.
UpliftED brings together partners across K-12 education, higher education, business, philanthropy, and workforce development. Together, they help more Central Floridians access the education, training, and credentials needed for economic mobility and long-term success.
Investing in Central Florida’s Future
“We believe every student deserves a clear path to opportunity after high school, regardless of their background. Through upliftED, Heart of Florida United Way is bringing together educators, employers, and community leaders to transform barriers into bridges—unlocking confidence and opening doors to meaningful postsecondary success. This grant will help us strengthen those connections, empowering individuals to rise to their fullest potential while building a resilient workforce and a thriving regional economy across Central Florida.”
— Kelly Astro, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Heart of Florida United Way
Expanding Access & Opportunity
The grant will support upliftED’s core mission to:
- Convene cross-sector partners to build unified educational pipelines.
- Expand access to high-value pathways information for students, particularly those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds.
- Align local education and workforce strategies directly with Central Florida’s evolving labor market needs.
- Optimizing local futures: This initiative will focus heavily on expanding targeted outreach to high school students in underserved neighborhoods, ensuring they have direct exposure to local high-growth tech and healthcare career opportunities.
Driving Toward Florida’s SAIL to 60 Goal
upliftED is one of 19 local college access networks (LCANs) across Florida supported by FCAN. These LCANs collectively serve more than 85% of Florida’s population, working to increase postsecondary attainment in support of Florida’s SAIL to 60 goal.
The initiative aims to ensure that 60% of working-age adults hold a postsecondary degree or high-value credential by 2030. Currently, Florida stands at 54.8%.
“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 kicked off their collaboration at the Talent Strong Florida Summit in Tampa on May 6, 2026, marking the beginning of this 18-month push for expanded regional opportunity.
