September 30 Deadline Nears for Hurricane-Impacted Residents to Begin Training with Up to $5,000 in Assistance 

~Grant funding supports training and career services for eligible Hillsborough and Pinellas County residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton. ~ 

TAMPA, Fla. — CareerSource Tampa Bay (CSTB) is offering grant-funded workforce assistance through the Disaster Worker Grant (DWG) to eligible Hillsborough and Pinellas County residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton. Funding is available through September 30, 2026.  

Eligible participants may receive up to $5,000 in tuition assistance for training opportunities, along with comprehensive career services designed to support employment and long-term career advancement.  

To qualify for assistance, individuals must have been unemployed for at least six of the past 13 weeks and complete the required enrollment steps with CSTB in time to begin an eligible training program before September 30, 2026.  

How To Get Started:  

Register with Employ Florida: Visit EmployFlorida.com to register, complete the Employ Florida Background Wizard, and upload all required documentation. 

Attend an Intake Session: Weekly intake sessions are available at CSTB career centers until September 23, 2026. Individuals may attend the location and session most convenient for them:  

• Tampa Center: Mondays at 10 a.m., 9215 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33612 

• Gulf to Bay Center: Tuesdays at 10 a.m., 2312 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33765 

• St. Petersburg Center: Thursdays at 12 p.m., 3420 8th Ave S., St. Petersburg, FL 33711.  

Bring Required Documentation: Individuals should bring the following documentation as applicable:  

• Driver’s license or state-issued ID. If the address on the identification does not match the individual’s current address, a recent utility bill should also be provided as proof of residence.  

• Social Security card or copy, if it has not already been uploaded to Employ Florida.   

• Updated resume, if it has not already been uploaded to Employ Florida.  

• Pay stubs from the last six months, if applicable, particularly for individuals who have not received SNAP benefits within the past six months and are not currently receiving SNAP.  

• Copy of the individual’s highest educational credential, such as a high school diploma, GED, or college degree.  

• If you have already selected a training program and training provider, bring your Letter of Acceptance or Letter of Intent from the school, if available.  

• DD-214, if you are a veteran.  

• VA benefits documentation, if applicable.  

• SSI or SSDI award letter, if applicable.  

• Documentation of your last 10 job searches.  

• Information regarding your last employer, including employer name, employer address, job title, and last date worked.  

For additional information about the Disaster Worker Grant, please email [email protected] or visit the Disaster Worker Grant page on the CareerSource Tampa Bay website.  

About CareerSource Tampa Bay  

Effective July 1, 2024, CareerSource Tampa Bay is the designated local workforce development board serving Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. CareerSource Tampa Bay is governed by a board of directors whose members are appointed by a consortium of Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEOs) from each county commission. 

CareerSource Tampa Bay is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers listed may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.  

CareerSource Tampa Bay is the direct service provider for various workforce programs which are supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $38,665,000 with 93% federally funded (Updated annually, as of September 2025).  

For more information about CareerSource Tampa Bay, please visit: https://careersourcetampabay.com  

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