TALLAHASSEE- Governor Jeb Bush announced today that Workforce Florida (WFI) and the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) have established a new web-accessible Information Clearinghouse/Gateway designed to improve communications and collaboration among the workforce services community, Community-Based Organizations and Faith-Based Organizations (CBOs & FBOs).

The site was designed by Workforce Florida staff in consultation with several state-level organizations, notably the Florida Catholic Conference and the Florida Coalition for the Homeless. The primary purpose of the site is to serve as an information and communications conduit to and among the state-level "umbrella" organizations with the expectation that they will use their existing communications channels to pass relevant information and encouragement on to their local affiliates.

"There is a tremendous energy and commitment in grassroots and faith-based organizations that allows them to be a driving force for improving our social fabric," said Governor Jeb Bush. "We are going to enlist their help in a critical partnership between all levels of government and those grassroots and faith-based organizations who live in the hearts of their neighborhoods."

Governor Bush recently announced that Florida's workforce system was successful in their application for a grant from the US Department of Labor specifically designed to connect faith-based and grassroots community organizations to the nation's One-Stop Career System. Winning applications from Florida included Workforce Florida/Agency for Workforce Innovation, United Way of Brevard County, and the Dominican American National Foundation in Miami.

The Information Clearinghouse/Gateway is created in conjunction with President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Through this initiative, the administration is working to remove barriers that prevent faith-based organizations from receiving federal funding and create a "level playing field" between faith-based and community organizations and other groups that use federal funds to deliver services. The site can be accessed through: http://www.workforceflorida.com.

Workforce Florida Inc. (WFI) is the state's chief workforce policy organization. Created by the Workforce Innovation Act of 2000, the public-private partnership supports and promotes economic growth through workforce development. WFI is the principal architect in the statewide efforts to develop and retain a highly competitive workforce that is responsive to the needs of employers. The Agency for Workforce Innovation acts as the administrator of Florida's workforce development programs. The agency is responsible for implementing policy dealing with workforce development programs, welfare transition, unemployment compensation and labor market information.