Talent & Education Overview
A key Chamber focus is leveraging our tremendous education assets–the state’s preeminent university, the nation’s No. 1 community college and a K-12 school district ranked among the top six percent of Florida school districts. Via initiatives such as the Alachua County Education Compact and under the leadership of the Compact Leadership Council, we leverage business engagement to facilitate the transformation of career and education opportunities available to Alachua students.
Alachua County Education Compact (ACEC)
The Alachua County Education Compact (ACEC) is mobilizing the community around education to better prepare students for higher education and sustainable careers. This collaborative initiative – which includes leaders in education, business, philanthropy, workforce development, government, parents and families – aims to improve systemic outcomes in education by aligning the efforts of our education partners to prepare students to seize career opportunities in emerging industries.
ACEC Foundation
The Greater Gainesville Chamber Education Foundation is a non-profit established in 1992 that leads education reform and workforce development initiatives designed to benefit the Gainesville region. The primary purpose of the foundation is to enhance local education and to provide other charitable work, which supports and enhances education and the development of a more productive, skilled and inclusive workforce in Alachua County.
Effective cross-sector collaboration requires sustainable coordination.
The Alachua County Education Compact’s Collective Impact model means that ACEC operates with the support of the Greater Gainesville Chamber as its “backbone organization.”
The Chamber supports and facilitates the efforts of the Compact to maintain overall strategic coherence. With a team of dedicated staff and administration, the Chamber manages the day-to-day functions of our efforts and works as the convener of the Compact to help partner agencies leverage resources, align programs and services, and build bridges between siloed systems.
