Broward College Receives $1 Million from Fort Lauderdale’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to Offer Courses to Residents at the New L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center

Broward College @YMCA  increases community access to workforce education and other college classes.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (June, 1 2022) – Broward College is expanding its program offerings to another location with the opening of a new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, which officially opened on May 20. The College has been awarded $1 million in funding from the CRA over the next four years to offer free non-credit workforce training courses and workshops for residents in the district. This is the first partnership of its kind between a community redevelopment agency and a post-secondary institution. Broward College will occupy the fourth floor of the new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center at 1409 NW 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

“It’s wonderful to see Broward College step forward and offer convenient educational development and workforce training to city residents that can help boost their career opportunities,” said Dean Trantalis, mayor, Fort Lauderdale. “With programs like this, we can further reduce unemployment and help those who are employed earn higher incomes. Programs like this show the great potential offered by the construction of the new L.A. Lee YMCA and Mizell Community Center to build community and make our city a great place to live and work.”

Broward College will use the fourth floor of the new location to provide job readiness training and job placement services for residents of the redevelopment area in high-demand fields, including business, hospitality, and information technology. CRA funds will also be utilized to assist the College with infrastructure improvements, equipment costs, furnishing, network wiring, and cost of instruction.

The College will process and enroll a minimum of 200 eligible residents within the community redevelopment area with the expectation that each enrollee will receive quality training that can lead to an associate degree, a nationally recognized certification, or license in specific high-demand industries or professions.

“Without Broward College, some of our children would never have the opportunity for higher education,” said Robert McKinzie, city commissioner, District III. “So often, children aren’t afforded a chance to leave their neighborhood for higher learning.  Thanks to the commitment of Broward College, they now will be able to attend college.”

Broward College will also use funding received under the Florida Department of Education Rapid Credentialing program to support free tuition and fees for residents in the CRA district. Rapid Credentials help individuals boost their earning potential, gain a competitive edge, and fast-track their careers through in-demand, high-quality workforce education.

The new location is part of the College’s Broward UP™ model. Broward UP, the UP meaning “unlimited potential,” aims to improve the lives of residents in Broward County zip codes with the highest unemployment and lowest education levels. Broward UP offers free educational opportunities, workforce training, and support services directly in neighborhoods throughout Broward County. The goal is to help residents get the training needed to find a good job, make more money, and get the skills required to thrive in the workforce. 

“This CRA partnership allows us to continue to expand access to higher education in Broward County,” said Dr. Mildred Coyne, senior vice president, Workforce Education and Innovation at Broward College. “This new location is essential to our work to connect residents with rewarding and high-wage job opportunities and our goal to ensure that everyone benefits from the economic growth experienced in our county.”

The non-credit courses and certifications that will be offered at the facility in the fall will include:

• Supply Chain Certification
• Data Analytics Certificate
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification
• Marketing (Digital and Social Media) w/Analytics
• Excel Certificate
• QuickBooks with Accounting Principles
• Cybersecurity Certificate
• Excel (MOS) Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
• Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM)
• Supply Chain with Forklift Certification
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner Technical Essentials

Soon, Adult Education courses will be offered as well. These courses will include GED Preparation connected to certifications in Business, IT, and Supply Chain Management. For more information about all the courses/certifications offered and to learn how to register for these classes, visit Broward.edu/browardup.

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About Broward College:

Serving approximately 60,000 students annually, Broward College provides residents with certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees, and baccalaureate degrees in selected programs. The mission of the College is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners. For more information, visit www.broward.edu.

About the CRA: