MySuncoast Scholarship Request
Welcome to the MySuncoast Scholarship and Training Orientation. Through CareerSource Suncoast (CSS) and the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) there are scholarship opportunities that may be available to selected individuals. The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) is federal legislation designed to provide services and training assistance to individuals so they can obtain a career in high skills, high wage occupations.
MySuncoast Scholarships are related to in-demand, targeted occupations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties and can cover costs like tuition and training related materials. Those occupations are listed on the Local Targeted Occupations List (LTOL) and the education providers, and their training programs are listed on the CSS Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL).
Selected scholarship recipients receive access to CSS follow-up services for at least a 12-month period once they become employed. Those services can include workplace counseling, help with securing better jobs, career planning, assistance with work-related problems, and referrals to other CSS services and/or services in the community.
Scholarship Restrictions include the following:
- CSS is unable to assist with the cost of any pre-requisite classes or general education requirements.
- CSS cannot reimburse scholarship recipients for tuition, fees or books that have already been paid to the school or purchased.
- Scholarships do not cover the cost of training vendor entrance exams, background checks, application fees or assessments.
- Training programs cannot exceed two years*.
General Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older.
- Meet U.S. citizenship requirements/authorization to work or hold a permanent resident card in the U.S.
- Meet selective service registration requirements (for men born after December 31st, 1959).
If you meet the general selection criteria, you must also meet one of the targeted selection criteria under either Adult or Dislocated Worker.
Under the Adult criteria, scholarship selection priority is given to interested low-income veterans and their spouses along with recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals and individuals who are basic skills deficient.
Once all interested individuals with the above referenced characteristics have been screened and/ or selected, CSS will then entertain individuals whose family income is less than the Adult Service Below Self-Sufficiency income levels.
Priority is always given to those individuals whose total gross family income does not exceed the “Adult Service Priority” column. This is done by using the past six months of income multiplied by two. Only, when possible, will CSS consider individuals whose total gross family income is less than the “Adult Service Below Self-Sufficiency” column. This is done by using the past six months of income multiplied by two.
This chart represents the CSS Scholarship income guidelines for Adult selection.
| Family Size | Adult Service Priority (Family income not to exceed) |
Adult Service Below Self-Sufficiency (Family income below) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,900 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $89,778 |
| 3 | $27,978 | $115,656 |
| 4 | $34,542 | $141,534 |
| 5 | $40,767 | $167,412 |
| 6 | $47,680 | $193,290 |
| 7 | $54,593 | $219,168 |
| 8 | $61,506 | $245,046 |
To be selected under the Dislocated Worker criteria, you need to meet one of the five targeted criteria listed below.
- Terminated or laid off, eligible for or exhausted UI and unlikely to return to industry or occupation; or
- Lost job from permanent closure or substantial layoff of a plant, facility, or enterprise; or
- Was self-employed and now unemployed because of economic conditions or natural disaster; or
- Displaced Homemaker; or
- Spouse of a member of U.S. Armed Forces who lost employment due to permanent change in duty station or is unemployed, underemployed and has difficulty finding or upgrading employment
The MySuncoast Scholarship selection process is not solely based on the general and targeted selection criteria. CSS will assess and consider an individual’s ability to successfully complete training and obtain full-time employment in the training-related occupation.
Items considered include, but are not limited to the following:
- Previous training / scholarship assistance received from CSS.
- Current credentials, degrees, or other marketable skills.
- Current academic levels.
- Level of support while attending training.
- Stable living environment.
- Financial support/stability while attending training.
- Ability to cover the remaining tuition and training-related costs, if any.
- Potential background issues that may prohibit employment in certain fields of study.
If interested in pursuing a MySuncoast Scholarship, please complete the following request.