County of Charlotte, FL
STTAR Initiative
Population over 50,000
Local government workforce recruitment and retention is a consistent challenge for organizations across the U.S. and around the world. Many positions remain unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates or job-specific requirements that prevent interested potential candidates from applying or progressing through the interview stage. Charlotte County’s human resources department was one such local government agency facing these challenges. Many departments across the county government requested the requirements be lowered or changed to meet those of the applicant pool. While this was considered as a possible solution, Charlotte County developed a more robust recruitment and retention program which not only helped to fill open positions in the County but also provided training and capacity building for community members.
The Strategically Targeted Talent Aligned for Retention (STTAR) Initiative began as a pilot program in 2022. The goal of this program was to identify candidates who would be willing to work as STTAR employees and receive the on-the-job training that would prepare them to fill regular full-time or part-time positions that were sitting vacant. Departments throughout Charlotte County would participate in this program with the hope of retaining the STTAR employees.
The program serves as a temporary employment opportunity which allows applicants to receive pay and on-the-job training instead of needing to go to an outside agency to take classes using their own time and money. The County’s initiative helps remove financial and transportation barriers associated with career advancement with the end goal of creating long-term County employment opportunities.
The program includes six job classes: administrative support, maintenance specialist, equipment operator with commercial driver’s license (CDL), paraprofessional, professional, and trades technician. The Human Resources department created the program and developed its documentation including an onboarding process designed specifically for the STTAR employees. A dedicated staff position on the human resources team was created and the recruitment and hiring guide for this new pathway was distributed to managers and supervisors throughout the County.
From March 2022 through February 2025, the program involved more than 400 county employees and reduced time-to-fill metrics by creating a pool of trained candidates ready to fill open positions as they became available. This expanded the applicant pool and eased the recruitment process while providing practical training and career advancement opportunities for interested individuals. The STTAR program filled a gap in County employment needs while also improving access to jobs for County residents.
The success of this program extends beyond Charlotte County. The STTAR program has showcased the County as an innovative employer looking to meet the needs of today’s workforce. Neighboring communities have demonstrated interest in this initiative and STTAR program participants have shared their knowledge and experiences with other jurisdictions to allow them to adopt their own programs. The STTAR program also serves as a mechanism for recruiting younger professionals to local government service as the program serves as a first entry point for county employment at many job fairs and local schools. The success of this program has led to a stronger Charlotte County workforce which allows for improved service delivery and a stronger community as a whole.
