St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Pinellas County Job Corps Center will stay open after a federal settlement reached last week between the U.S. Department of Labor and seven students who sued over the agency’s plan to pause and potentially close all 99 Job Corps sites nationwide.
Settlement rescinds pause on Job Corps centers
The Department of Labor had announced in May 2025 a pause in the Job Corps program, citing a 38.6% national graduation rate in 2023 and a “startling number of incident reports.” The pause threatened the future of the program, which has offered education, career training, housing and other services to low‑income young adults ages 16 to 24 since 1964.
Seven Job Corps students, represented by Public Citizen and the Southern Poverty Law Center, filed a class‑action lawsuit challenging the pause and the proposed closures. Under the settlement, the Department of Labor agreed to rescind the pause affecting all centers and to refrain from further closure actions.
Local impact on Pinellas County students
The Pinellas County center serves roughly 280 students. Graduate Mya Harrell, who completed the program in December and subsequently enlisted in the Navy with a $5,000 enlistment bonus, said the news was “personal” and “exciting.” She noted that staff continued to support students during the uncertainty, organizing a job fair and bringing in recruiters from the Air Force, Navy and other employers, as well as housing experts.
“I was excited. I have friends that are still there. Knowing that there are people that are going to succeed,” Harrell said.
Community leaders welcome the decision
St. Petersburg City Councilman Corey Givens Jr., a former employee of the Pinellas Job Corps, called the settlement “good news” for the community, emphasizing that the program provides free housing, health care and vocational training to young adults who might otherwise lack such opportunities.
Askia Aquil, president of the Pinellas County Job Corps Center Community Relations Council, described the settlement as a “victory for alumni and future generations,” adding, “We knew that Job Corps had widespread support, so the federal court just confirmed what we felt all along.”
Next steps and upcoming events
The Pinellas County Job Corps Center is planning a job fair on Wednesday, running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to connect students and job seekers with local employers.
The U.S. Department of Labor has not responded to requests for comment.
Why the program matters
Job Corps remains a key pathway for low‑income youth to gain marketable skills, secure employment and, in many cases, pursue further education or military service. Keeping the Pinellas County center open ensures that the community continues to benefit from a program that aligns with traditional family values by offering stable housing, health care and a structured environment for young adults.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
