FDC hosts Build Your Workforce showcase to connect Florida employers with skilled inmates preparing for release

Daytona Beach, Florida – The Florida Department of Corrections brought employers and community partners inside Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach for an event highlighting programs designed to prepare inmates for employment after their release.

FDC partnered with the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence to host the “Build Your Workforce” Employment Partner Showcase. The event gave employers, industry leaders and community stakeholders a closer look at training taking place inside the correctional facility and the skills inmates are developing before returning to their communities.

Participants toured several training programs and learned about FDC’s broader workforce development efforts. They also had an opportunity to connect with inmates who have earned industry certifications and are preparing to enter Florida’s workforce following incarceration.

The programs featured during the showcase covered a wide range of skills and industries. They included canine training, masonry, food service, vehicle restoration, public speaking, and grounds and turf management.

FDC officials said employment preparation is an important part of helping inmates make the transition back into their communities.

“Preparing inmates for employment is an important part of preparing them for a successful return to their communities,” said Florida Department of Corrections Director of Programs and Re-Entry Amy Frizzell. “Through events like the Build Your Workforce showcase, employers can see firsthand the skills, training, and industry-recognized credentials inmates are earning while incarcerated. By connecting qualified candidates with employment opportunities before release, we are strengthening pathways to successful re-entry and supporting safer communities across Florida.”

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The issue affects thousands of people across the state every year.

More than 27,000 inmates return to communities throughout Florida annually after serving time in correctional facilities. FDC has expanded academic, technical and personal development programs aimed at giving those individuals skills they can use when looking for work after release.

Through the programs, inmates can receive training and work toward credentials that may help them qualify for employment. The department says those efforts are intended to improve re-entry outcomes, reduce victimization and support public safety.

The employment showcase also gives businesses a chance to see the training directly rather than learning about the programs only through descriptions or reports.

That connection between employers and potential workers is a major part of the initiative. By introducing businesses to qualified inmates before their release, organizers hope to create employment opportunities that can continue once participants return to their communities.

“Florida employers need skilled, dependable workers, and this showcase gives them an opportunity to see firsthand how inmates are preparing to meet those workforce needs,” said Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence Executive Director Erica Averion. “By bringing employers and qualified candidates together before release, we can help create meaningful employment opportunities that benefit individuals, businesses and communities across Florida.”

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The Tomoka Correctional Institution event demonstrated how correctional education and workforce programs can connect directly with employers searching for workers.

For inmates, the programs provide opportunities to develop practical skills and earn recognized credentials while still incarcerated. Employers, meanwhile, can learn more about the available workforce and meet prospective employees before they return to the community.

The Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence works with FDC on efforts intended to support correctional programs and successful re-entry.

Employers and other organizations interested in learning more about the foundation or participating in a future employment showcase in their area can find additional information through the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence website.