Writer: Chérie Lynn Canada
2 min read January 2024 — The nonprofit sector has a growing history of economic contributions to growth in Palm Beach County, from helping startups and small businesses grow revenue and create jobs in the area to providing students and the community with tools and resources to develop relationships and enhance their skills.
“Over the past five years, we’ve helped companies grow, generating $37 million for Palm Beach County and creating 220-plus jobs,” Shana Ostrovitz, executive director at 1909 told Invest:. Last year, a collaborative initiative launched by 1909, called the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders group, helped bring like-minded leaders together to explore new opportunities.
“Through partnerships with entities like FAU’s Tech Runway, Global Ventures, FPL’s 35 Mules, the Hispanic Entrepreneurs Initiative, and the South Florida Tech Hub, we’re ensuring a unified effort toward economic development and supporting the future of our county,” Ostrovitz added.
Various nonprofits in the area are also working together to address the challenges in the labor market and bridge the gap between education and the workforce. Many children in the United States came out of the pandemic with fewer social skills and wider learning gaps. Nonprofits in the area, such as Roots and Wings and the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach, have found innovative ways to support students both academically and personally.
“We have grown as a result of the rising need for our programming,” said Roots and Wings Founder Ted Hoskinson. “Our structure is not rocket science – there are many children who need extra time to read, and we are unique in addressing this in after-school programming. The program is 52 hours and free.” He noted the Roots and Wings program has helped 94% of their students gain better literacy.
As students move into their high school years, early participation in the workforce has become a trending topic for many. Generation Z (born from the mid-1990s to early 2010s) is expected to make up nearly one-quarter (22%) of the global population and 27% of the global workforce by 2035, according to Australian research services firm McCrindle. Unlike generations in the workforce before them that may have explored fewer opportunities during their professional lives, Gen Z workers are predicted to experience six different careers that total 18 separate jobs.
Gaining insight through work experiences early on is paramount, which nonprofits in Palm Beach have helped to facilitate. “We’re finding partners in the community who will give the kids a chance to participate in real-life work experience. We are also offering jobs within our organization,” Jaene Miranda, president of Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach, told Invest:. “The biggest challenge is the lack of employees available to us in the marketplace. It is a very competitive marketplace right now. It’s all about human capital. We don’t exist without people to help us do the work.”
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