Employers' New Edge

When PGT Inc. CEO Rod Hershberger wanted to expand production for the North Venice custom windows and doors manufacturer, he needed skilled workers — and he needed them fast.

With 1,200 current employees, the company, which earned $176 million in 2010 revenues, already had a base of personnel who could be trained for the work. But when it chose to close its North Carolina plant and combine it with its Florida operations, Sarasota County's largest manufacturer needed new skilled labor.

Enter the CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, a nonprofit work force training program based on a flexible national model developed in the Northeast and based in Boston. CareerEdge aims to build career paths for lower income employees by focusing on growth industries and assisting employers looking to fill positions with skilled workers.