By: Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement, Florida Prosperity Initiative
Economic development comes in many forms. Generational poverty is one of the most pressing challenges impacting Florida’s long-term economic competitiveness, and addressing it is central to the mission of the Florida Prosperity Initiative. Poverty doesn’t just affect individuals and families; it drives preventable disease, increases health care costs, and reduces workforce productivity.
Currently, 714,768 children in Florida are living in poverty. Children born into poverty face steeper barriers to educational achievement and economic mobility. These realities weaken Florida’s future talent pipeline, limiting access to skilled workers and increasing long-term dependence on public systems.
Through the Florida Prosperity Initiative, employers, local chambers, and corporate partners are working together to change this trajectory, using data, collaboration, and local solutions (known as “promising practices”) to expand economic opportunity at the zip code-level by tackling the 10 root causes of generational poverty. As we align business leadership with proven strategies that improve education, workforce readiness, health outcomes, and family stability, we can strengthen local economies and ensure Florida’s continued growth and prosperity.
Addressing generational poverty is not only a moral imperative; It is a strategic investment in Florida’s workforce and economic future.
Learn how the root causes of poverty are impacting your zip code on The Florida Gap.
Join us at our statewide Solution Summit on June 9 in Tampa (in person or virtually) to learn how you can join Florida business and community leaders in driving the solutions that are tackling the 10 root causes of poverty.
To get involved with the Florida Prosperity Initiative’s zip code-level efforts to end childhood poverty, reach out to Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement. If you have not yet met Heather, she grew up in poverty, was in Florida’s foster care system, has broken the cycle of generational poverty, and is now engaging business and community leaders as we grow the Prosperity Initiative in all 983 zip codes.