In order to help community members who are looking to enhance their skills and earn a better, more livable wage, Goodwill Manasota has enabled security guard training through funding from the Evans Family Charitable Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation. The grant is designated for the enrollment of 12 community members in the Class D security guard license course, led by instructors from Bradenton company Right On Target Security Academy LLC, with a goal of 10 earning their certifications and being placed in jobs with hourly wages of $13 or more. The first group of four subsidized participants—including three veterans—successfully completed their coursework, and two new candidates referred and subsidized by Goodwill began the class on Sept. 21. The participants were recruited through Goodwill’s Job Connection office at Turning Points, Goodwill’s corporate campus Job Connection, and its Veterans Services Program office. The program is for Manatee County residents who are currently unemployed or underemployed. Interested community members who require soft skills training in advance of sitting for classes will have access to Goodwill Works job skills classes to lower barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.

The Class D Security License, which is mandatory to work in the private security industry, requires 40 hours of training from a licensed security school. According to Indeed, the average salary for a security guard is above $13/hour, with higher pay for armed security.