“For each student who completes a postsecondary program, Sarasota gains tens of thousands of dollars in fiscal and societal benefits,” Williams said as he prepared to convene an unprecedented coalition of community leaders. “We’re not just talking about individual success. We’re talking about our community’s economic future.”
This fall, the leadership of PLANit Sarasota gathered the county’s most influential voices around a single, measurable goal: increase the college-going rate by 10 percent, a figure that translates to roughly 182 more students pursuing an education beyond high school.
A Coalition Unlike Any Other
The steering committee reads like a who’s who of Sarasota’s power structure: Superintendent Terry Connor, incoming Community Foundation CEO Jessica Muroff, Chamber President Heather Kasten, CareerSource Suncoast President Joshua Matlock, and leaders from major employers, higher education institutions, and community organizations.
“When you get the superintendent, the chamber president, and major employers sitting at the same table focused on the same goal, that’s when real change happens,” Williams said.
The coalition embraces the campaign for a Talent Strong Sarasota, part of PLANit Sarasota’s participation in the statewide Talent Strong Florida campaign. What started as awareness-building is evolving into action-oriented strategies focused on measurable outcomes.
The Economic Case for Local Talent
The numbers driving the initiative are compelling: a 10% increase in college enrollment would generate an economic benefit of $92 million and social benefit of $227 million for Sarasota County every single year. But the real motivation goes deeper than economics.
“We have incredible assets here: world-class healthcare systems, innovative businesses, strong educational institutions,” Williams explained. “Talent Strong Sarasota connects the dots between them all. We’re building bridges that keep talent local.”
The approach recognizes that Sarasota’s booming economy creates opportunity, but only if the community grows its own workforce rather than importing talent from elsewhere.
Four Pillars of Change
Talent Strong Sarasota focuses on four evidence-based components.
- Going Rate: Increasing the percentage of graduates who pursue postsecondary education immediately after high school, recognizing that delayed enrollment often becomes no enrollment.
- FAFSA Completion: Ensuring every senior completes financial aid applications, removing affordability as a barrier to continuation.
- Postsecondary Navigation: Supporting students through the complex transition from high school acceptance to actual enrollment and persistence.
- Access to Resources: Connecting students and families with comprehensive information about pathways, costs, and support systems.
Building Momentum Through Community Engagement
The December 2 steering committee meeting represents just one milestone in PLANit Sarasota’s strategic approach to building lasting change. The initiative launched in September with a kickoff meeting that brought together initial partners, followed by a November Partner Appreciation Breakfast that honored coalition volunteers and celebrated early commitments.
“This isn’t a one-meeting solution,” Williams said. “Real change requires sustained engagement across the community.”
The campaign continues with targeted outreach designed to reach every corner of Sarasota County. A February “Grassroots Lunch & Learn” at Betty Johnson Library will bring the Talent Strong message directly to Newtown, a traditionally underserved community, ensuring the initiative reaches families and students who might not typically connect with traditional college access resources.
Sustained Commitment, Measurable Results
This calendar of engagement reflects a fundamental understanding: increasing college enrollment requires systematic, sustained community mobilization. Success will be measured through National Student Clearinghouse data, FAFSA completion rates, and partnership with Sarasota County Schools to ensure comprehensive tracking. But the real test will come in the conversations happening in living rooms, classrooms, and workplaces across the county.
Williams said. “We’re not just hoping for the best. We are demystifying the process by aligning resources, tracking results, and holding ourselves accountable to 182 real students.”
The initiative represents how local networks approach college access. Rather than individual organizational efforts, it emphasizes coordinated community strategy. Instead of awareness campaigns, it focuses on outcome-driven action sustained over time.
“Sarasota’s economy is thriving, to sustain it we’re going to either have to acquire talent or develop and grow it.” Williams said. “These 182 students are our community’s future doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. And they’re going to help ensure that future unfolds right here at home.”
PLANit Sarasota is the local college access network for Sarasota County, part of the Florida College Access Network’s statewide initiative to ensure all Floridians have access to education beyond high school.