Million-dollar BE BOLD prize aims to help Broward get back to work

More vaccinations bring new hope that we are finally emerging from the grip of the pandemic. Yet lingering unemployment shows how much more our community must do to overcome this health and economic crisis, which would be even worse, were it not for our state’s aggressive, pro-business posture.

When the pandemic hit, it was surprising to see how quickly so many of the restaurants, shops and other local businesses we loved closed for good. Temporary shutdowns and stay-at-home orders were just too much for many businesses to afford. Skyrocketing unemployment soon followed in Broward, rising to 15 percent by May.

Yet even more jarring than those rising unemployment numbers were the long lines forming at local food banks. Between March and November, the demand for food relief doubled at Feeding South Florida’s distribution sites, the Sun Sentinel reported on Dec. 5.

The people in those food lines included parents who suddenly couldn’t put food on the table for their families. Seniors who lost the part-time jobs that helped them make ends meet. Young people who had just entered the workforce. So many of the people in those food lines were asking for help for the first time in their lives. And now, one year later, too many of them are still struggling to get back on track.

According to data released on Monday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Broward’s unemployment rate stood at 5.3 percent in January. Statewide, service industry jobs — particularly in leisure and hospitality, Broward’s employment bread and butter — continue to be among the hardest hit, down 22 percent with more than 284,000 jobs lost.

The pandemic also worsens economic disparities at a time when our community is trying to answer the call for social justice. In years prior to the pandemic, the unemployment rate for Black residents in Broward was consistently higher than for white residents. The struggle to overcome inequities, to create a level playing field, has grown even more daunting over the past year.

A new round of federal pandemic relief checks and extended unemployment benefits are on the way, but these are just Band-Aids not a cure. No government bailout will solve this employment problem for Broward. Our community has to step up and create more employment solutions.

That means local philanthropy, local businesses and local nonprofits must work together to help struggling residents get back to work fast. To become self-sufficient. To achieve economic independence. We need new collaborations and fresh approaches to tackle our employment challenge.

That’s why the Community Foundation of Broward has launched the $1 million BE BOLD Prize to identify an outside-ofthe box, innovative approach to get local residents back to work. We are targeting solutions that lift up those affected by the pandemic, and especially people of color who have been disproportionately affected by this crisis. The BE BOLD Prize is an exciting opportunity for a nonprofit, local business, government agency or a dynamic collaboration to receive a $1 million infusion of support to help produce life-changing employment solutions. Got a million-dollar idea? Go online to apply at cfbroward.link/Be-Bold-Prize.

The BE BOLD Prize is just one way to help jump-start Broward’s jobs recovery. Perhaps training more service industry workers to move into higher-paying construction or technology careers could provide the lift Broward needs. Or encouraging local businesses to invest in paid apprenticeships that create a talent pipeline. Also, helping low-income residents get computers and high-speed internet connections could open doors to new remote work opportunities.

Before the pandemic, too many hardworking residents were stuck in a risky cycle of living paycheck to paycheck — one emergency away from poverty. The pandemic exposed what happens when their paychecks disappear. Now, we can’t allow the pandemic to rob our community of the economic opportunities that should be available to all residents.

The economic recovery — in Broward and across the nation — will take longer than the defeat of the virus, which vaccinations are expected to deliver this summer. By embracing the same commitment to innovation and collaboration that spurred creation of the vaccines, we can deliver the shot in the arm that our community requires.

Helping more Broward residents get back to work, with new skills and fulfilling opportunities, shapes a brighter future for us all.

Helping more Broward residents get back to work, with new skills and fulfilling opportunities, shapes a brighter future for us all.