E.L.I.T.E. Training Center
The ELITE Training Center serves as a premier workforce development, education, and entrepreneurship hub that fosters meaningful collaboration between the Gainesville Housing Authority and a diverse network of community partners, including Santa Fe College, the University of Florida Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO) Center, the North Central Florida Apartment Association, and other public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Through these strategic partnerships, the ELITE Training Center delivers innovative programming designed to empower residents with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to achieve personal growth, economic mobility, and long-term self-sufficiency.
The Center provides comprehensive educational and workforce readiness opportunities that focus on life skills development, industry-recognized certifications, career exploration, job placement preparation, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and professional advancement. By connecting participants directly with employers, industry experts, educators, and training providers, the ELITE Training Center creates clear pathways to sustainable employment, career progression, increased earning potential, and business ownership opportunities.
The practical, hands-on, and industry-driven training offered through the Center equips Gainesville Housing Authority residents and members of the broader Gainesville community with the competencies needed to compete successfully in today’s workforce. Whether participants are seeking entry-level employment, career advancement, credential attainment, or entrepreneurial development, the ELITE Training Center provides the support and resources necessary to help individuals reach their goals and build brighter futures.
Purposefully designed to accommodate a wide range of workforce, educational, and community engagement activities, the ELITE Training Center features state-of-the-art amenities including high-speed internet and Wi-Fi connectivity, large flat-screen instructional monitors, modern industrial-grade construction, three fully equipped instructional classrooms, a professional conference and meeting room, and dedicated administrative office space. These facilities support the delivery of certification courses, workforce training programs, professional development workshops, business incubator activities, community meetings, and collaborative learning experiences that strengthen the economic vitality of Gainesville and enhance opportunities for residents throughout the region.
Through its commitment to education, workforce development, and community partnership, the ELITE Training Center serves as a catalyst for opportunity, helping individuals transform potential into achievement and creating pathways to lasting economic and personal success.
E.L.I.T.E. Programs
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Santa Fe College Adult Education provides ABE/GED Education at The ELITE Training Center:
Adult Basic Education (ABE) If you want to improve your skills, prepare for the GED®, and get training to prepare you for further education and careers, the SF Adult Education program is for you. Work in a classroom, online, or in an individualized learning lab staffed by trained, caring instructors. Take advantage of career preparation…
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OSHA-10 CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION
This comprehensive OSHA 10-hour Construction Safety Course provides workers with essential knowledge to recognize and prevent workplace hazards on construction sites. Through interactive discussions and real-world scenarios, participants will gain a foundational understanding of safety regulations, their rights, and responsibilities, empowering them to foster a safer work environment. Upon successful completion of the course, students…
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TURNKEY FACILITIES MAINTENANCE CERTIFICATION
Students who successfully complete the career training course receive both a Certificate of Completion from Santa Fe College and OSHA 10 Certification, making them a more valuable employee to local companies. From there, students can enter the workforce, making as much as $15 per hour and/or choose to continue at SF, which has apprenticeship programs…
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY
The GHA Entrepreneurship Academy provides a comprehensive collaborative entrepreneurial experience including an 8-week course from Santa Fe College CIED and follow up support, integration into UF Small Business Relations programming and support from, and access to,UNF North Florida SBDC. Each course session within the SF College CIED instructional component answers every critical question any entrepreneur…
Contact us for ELITE Training Center
Have questions about our programs or ready to take the next step in your learning journey? The ELITE Training Center team is here to help.
Phone
+ 352-872-5500
Email address
E.L.I.T.E. Service Plaza
As a key component of the ongoing Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and Early Action Activities implementation strategy, the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) is advancing plans to transform and activate a community plaza space at Pine Meadows into a vibrant center for entrepreneurship, community engagement, and economic opportunity. This placemaking initiative will enhance the physical environment through improved landscaping, public art installations, attractive seating areas, shaded gathering spaces, wayfinding signage, and other aesthetic improvements that foster a welcoming and engaging atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.
Beyond the physical enhancements, the project is designed to serve as a catalyst for economic mobility and resident empowerment. Funding will support resident entrepreneurs through targeted training, mentorship, business development assistance, and the acquisition of essential startup knowledge needed to launch and sustain their ventures. By investing directly in resident-led enterprises, GHA seeks to cultivate a culture of innovation, self-sufficiency, and community-based economic growth.
Strategically located at the Pine Meadows community, the plaza will complement three transformative neighborhood assets: the recently established ELITE Training Center, a workforce development and certification hub, and a forthcoming Grass Roots Commissary Kitchen, which will repurpose a former barbershop building adjacent to the ELITE Training Center, and a Flexible Youth Space, supporting enrichment, community pride, and professional development of area youth. Together, these investments are creating an interconnected ecosystem that supports workforce development, entrepreneurship, healthy food access, and neighborhood revitalization.
The community plaza represents far more than a physical improvement project; it is a strategic investment in people, place, and opportunity. As envisioned in the Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan, the plaza is beginning to advance several key outcomes, including resident empowerment through skill-building and workforce development resources, expanded entrepreneurial exploration and business creation opportunities, increased public and private investment in the neighborhood, and stronger partnerships with educational institutions, businesses, and community organizations. Collectively, these efforts are helping to create a more vibrant, resilient, and economically sustainable community where residents can thrive, pursue their aspirations, and contribute to the long-term prosperity of East Gainesville.