Workforce Florida Weekly Update 2-01-06

CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends

The State & Regions

Statement from Governor Jeb Bush regarding the passing of Coretta Scott King: “Columba and I are saddened by the passing of Coretta Scott King. She was a dedicated wife and loving mother. She shared her husband with the world, and lost him in the fight for equality. Coretta was a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly to bring justice and equality for millions of Americans. She preserved the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while carrying forward his message of freedom. With silent strength and grace, Coretta Scott King ensured Dr. King’s dream remained a priority for all Americans. As we mourn the loss of a matriarch of freedom, we are reminded of the power that one person can have in changing the lives of millions for the better. Our thoughts and prayers are with the King family. We humbly ask the Lord to comfort them in their time of sadness.”

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announces $195 Million for President Bush's Competitiveness Agenda – Florida’s Great Northwest a WIRED initiative winner! WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a major component of President Bush's Competitiveness Agenda, unveiled last night during the State of the Union Address. Through the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor will invest $195 million in thirteen regional economies. "We are launching the WIRED initiative to encourage regional communities to partner together and leverage their collective public and private sector assets and resources to develop a more highly skilled workforce that can act as the linchpin to attract new economic development and employers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. The goal of the WIRED initiative is to transform regional economies by enlisting the skills of the numerous and varied players in those economies to research and produce long-term strategic plans that prepare workers for high-skill, high-wage opportunities in the coming years and into the next decade. "The only way to address the national challenge of global competition is by building strong regional economies," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "By bringing together all the key players including research universities, venture capital firms and traditional organizations of economic and workforce development, regions can optimize their ability to innovate." Each of the following regions will receive $15 million over a three-year period: Coastal Maine (11 counties, including Augusta and Brunswick); Northeast Pennsylvania (nine counties, including Scranton, Allentown and Reading); Upstate New York (nine counties, including Rochester and Finger Lakes region); Piedmont Triad North Carolina (12 counties, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem); Central Michigan (13 counties, including Lansing, Flint and Saginaw); Western Michigan (seven counties, including Grand Rapids); Florida Panhandle (16 counties, including Tallahassee and Pensacola); Western Alabama & Eastern Mississippi (17 counties in Alabama, including Tuscaloosa and Selma and 19 counties in Mississippi, including Meridian and Starkville); North Central Indiana (14 counties, including Lafayette); Greater Kansas City (10 counties in Missouri and eight counties in Kansas, including Topeka); Denver Metro Region (eight counties, including Denver, Boulder and Ft. Collins); Central & Eastern Montana (32 counties covering mostly rural areas); California Coast (13 counties, including Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego). For the full release go to: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20060177.htm

Bush/Jennings 2006-2007 Budget emphasizes continued quality job growth and successful early learning ~ Priorities support economic diversification, enhance worker skills and strengthen early learning. TALLAHASSEE — Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings today unveiled their 2006-2007 budget priorities, supporting the expansion of job opportunities and education programs for Florida’s youngest children. Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Jennings remain committed to workforce development and early childhood education, earmarking funds to continue economic diversification, early learning and the creation of more high-value jobs. “The Governor’s recommended budget provides improved employment opportunities for Florida workers and a trained, career-ready workforce for the quality jobs employers need to fill,” AWI Director Susan Pareigis said. “Florida’s job growth leads the nation and our unemployment rate is at a record low. This budget will help bolster the state’s economic diversification plan through targeted workforce initiatives and better prepare our future workforce through innovative early learning measures tailored to the educational success of our young children.” Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Jennings budget recommendations for fiscal year 2006-2007 include:

• Tailored responsiveness to employer’s needs - $11 million to enable Florida workers to be ”Ready to Work.” Governor Bush recommends funding to enable employers to assess job skills and training needs of potential workers being served through Florida’s workforce services. This innovative program – Ready to Work -- will match the curriculum with the specific needs of Florida’s businesses and provide a workforce that is ready to work.
• Meeting ongoing demands of sustaining healthy economy and ongoing hurricane recovery - $12 million to train up to 11,000 workers through the Florida ReBuilds program. To ensure the continued growth of Florida’s economy and to assist in disaster recovery, workers are urgently needed to fill construction jobs. This program allows workforce and education partners to creatively meet the need for workers of all skill levels in the construction industry. Specialized training teaches workers the skills needed to enter a specific construction trade or advance the qualifications they may already have. Businesses in the construction trades may also directly access training grant funds to upgrade the skills of their existing workers.
• Ensuring educational success of Florida’s children by providing successful learning programs to Florida’s children. Florida’s groundbreaking Voluntary Prekindergarten program has established itself as the second largest in the nation within its first six months and is preparing Florida’s young children for success in school. Governor Bush is proposing funding to continue the Voluntary Prekindergarten program, which has already served more than 90,000 children. Governor Bush recommends continued funding to meet anticipated student enrollment as well as increasing the per student cost by 5.6 percent, from $2,500 to $2,640, per student.
  Additionally, the Governor’s budget provides $36 million in general revenue, to replace decreased federal funding, to maintain School Readiness program funding at current levels. Maintaining consistent funding levels enables the Office of Early Learning to continue serving the maximum number of children in the age 0 – 5 programs, ensuring they are ready for success in school.
• Expanding workforce services for industries critical to Florida’s economy -- $5.0 million for continued diversification of the state’s economic base. Workforce Florida will designate BANNER (Business Assistance Now for New Economy Results) Centers of Excellence to focus on the educational and training needs of occupations critical to the success of specific industry clusters. Most clusters will be from the sectors identified by Enterprise Florida as targeted areas for economic diversification and build upon the successful model of the first center focused on the Aviation/Aerospace industry, competitively awarded through funding from Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Florida will continue its plan to competitively designate up to three more centers, one of which will be dedicated to biotechnology.
• Keeping Florida’s workforce competitive -- $2 million to upgrade skills Governor Bush recommends doubling the current funding for the Incumbent Worker Training Program, which provides grant funding for customized training for existing businesses. Through this customer-driven program, Florida is able to effectively retain and keep businesses competitive through upgrading skills for existing full-time employees. The Governor’s recommendation of additional funding will provide skills upgrade training for up to 16,000 workers.
• Supporting Florida’s military families -- $200,000 to continue workforce services to military families - Understanding the importance of assisting those who serve our country and their families, Governor Bush recommends continued funding for the Military Family Employment Advocacy Program, which provides workforce services such as employment counseling, job search and placement assistance, information on educational and training programs and referral to supportive services to military spouses and families.

For the Governor’s complete press release go to: http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/eogadmin/showPress.jsp?press_id=7162. For more information on the Governor's budget recommendations, visit his e-budget at www.myflorida.com.

Governor Bush announces $1.5 billion in new tax cuts for Floridians. TALLAHASSEE-Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings Tuesday announced a $1.5 billion proposal to provide new tax cuts to Floridians. These recommendations continue the conservative fiscal policies that have spurred growth and increased revenues for Florida’s priorities since 1999. “The ingenuity and hard work of Floridians have produced a booming economy and a surplus of tax revenue,” said Governor Bush. “In times of growth, tax dollars should be returned to working families and small businesses in Florida. We must remember that tax dollars belong to our citizens, not the government.” Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Jennings recommend the following tax relief for Floridians:

• School Property Tax Reduction - $570 million
• Homeowners Tax Rebate - $500 million
• Sales Tax Holidays - $81 million
• Early Stage Venture Capital Tax Credits - $75 million
• Sales Tax Exemptions for Machinery and Equipment - $69 million
• Energy Diversity Tax Credits - $15 million
• Repeal of the Alcohol “By the Drink” Tax - $51 million
• Repeal of the Intangibles Tax -- $161 million

Totaling $1.5 billion, Governor Bush’s recommendations will return tax dollars to parents working to provide for their families, seniors living on fixed incomes and small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. Additionally, this tax relief plan returns productive resources to the private sector, enhances Florida’s economic competitiveness and improves the fairness of Florida’s tax structure. If these recommendations are approved by the Legislature, state and local tax relief granted to Florida’s taxpayers since 1999 will total $20.3 billion. For more information on Governor Bush’s recommended tax cuts, please visit www.myflorida.com.

New funding will further diversify and strengthen Florida’s economy. TAMPA - Governor Jeb Bush Monday launched new economic development initiatives to bolster the state’s efforts to diversify and build Florida’s Innovation Economy. Governor Bush is recommending a $630 million investment in the FY 2006-2007 budget for programs that will generate the innovation needed to create the industries of the future. “This significant state investment in Florida’s economy will create new jobs and foster growth of technology industries that yield high returns,” said Governor Bush. “Hard-working Floridians have created a booming economy, and we must capitalize on Florida’s surplus of tax revenue by investing in once-in-a-life opportunities that will grow our economy for the future.”

• $200 million to create and fund the 21st Century Technology, Research and Scholarship Enhancement Act
• $55 million to secure Florida’s position as a leader in the Space and Aeronautics industry.
• $75 million in tax credits for the new Florida Capital Formation Program.
• $50 million to expand Florida’s Quick Action Closing Fund, allowing the state to offer a cash incentive to companies considering Florida as the location for their business.
• $250 million to create the Florida Innovation Incentive Fund to enable Florida to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and big, statewide priorities that will yield a significant return for the taxpayer in the long-term.

For the full release go to: www.myflorida.com.

New info on the EITC/Prosperity Initiative web page – suggestions/additions welcomed. Please visit the AWI//WFI EITC site and let us know if you have information to be added or suggestions on additional resources you would like to have available. Updates and additions this week include:
• The Existing Prosperity Campaigns listing has additional contacts.
• Please see the heading Press Releases and News Articles for articles in local newspapers.
• A new section - Locate Free Tax Preparation Assistance – has been added and lists locations for tax assistance by county.
Although the emphasis initially has been on providing information on accessing the tax credits (EITC and CTC), this week we are adding information on financial literacy and requesting information on asset building. As noted above, these additional two elements are part of our expanding the EITC Campaign to the Prosperity Initiative.
• Financial Literacy - Note that on the updated listing of Prosperity Campaigns by County on the website we have added information on the Florida Jump$tart Coalition -The Florida Jump$tart Coalition is a non-profit organization with over 50 members consisting of: individuals, for profits, not for profits, government agencies, community based and faith based groups who have joined together to promote personal financial literacy in Florida, with emphasis on Kindergarten through young adults. The Florida Jump$tart Coalition is an active participant in Prosperity Campaigns throughout the state. Florida Jump$tart is an affiliate of the National Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. The National Jump$tart Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., was first convened in 1997 and consists of over 200 organizations committed to improving the financial literacy of America's youth, now with special emphasis on Kindergarten through young adults. Please visit www.fljumpstart.org for additional information.
We encourage all RWBs to provide information about local efforts for posting on this site. The purpose of this site is to provide contact information and share promising practices that can benefit Florida’s working families and individuals. For more information or to send your content and/or suggestions for additional info please contact JenniLee Robins at: jrobins@workforceflorida.com.

Founder of Monster.com; Keynote speaker for Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance 2006 Professional Career Expo. TAMPA, Fla. – January 26, 2006 - Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance will host its second annual professional career expo: Opening Doors: The Right Job/The Right Talent, on Monday, April 3, 2006, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. The expo will offer professionals with four-year degrees plus minimum two years experience in their field a chance to meet and interview with more than 40 area employers and feature innovative workshop presentations on how to prepare for and compete in the workforce. Jeff Taylor, founder of well-known job search engine Monster.com will be the featured keynote speaker. He is recognized as an innovator and visionary in both the internet and career industries. He is co-author of the book Monster Careers, which provides job seekers a step-by-step plan for finding the job of their dreams. “The objective of the expo is to provide an environment where businesses can have access to the brightest talent in our area,” said Jamie Melendez, communications director, Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance. “Opening Doors: the right job, the right talent is designed to bring professionals and employers together, while motivating participants to think critically about their careers in the 21st Century.” Career action workshops, featuring local experts on various employment and workplace experts, will begin at 8 a.m. and repeat at 10:30 a.m. Taylor will speak at 9:15 a.m., followed by employer exhibits at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit www.workforcetampa.com or call 813-740-4680 x 237.

The Nation

CQ Today Midday Update – Wednesday, February 01, 2006, 2:23 pm.
House: Considers measures on lobbyist access (H Res 648), extending the Patriot Act (HR 4659), budget reconciliation (S 1932) and honoring Coretta Scott King (H Res 655).
Senate: Considers a tax reconciliation bill (HR 4297) and the Patriot Act extension.
The President: Signs proclamation in honor of American Heart Month; speaks on the 2006 agenda at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; participates in swearing-in ceremony at White House for new Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

• Uncertain Outcome Looms for House Rule Change Vote
• McCain Backs Rep. Shadegg as House Republicans Limit Leadership Races
• Rep. Larson Elected Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman
• Senate Returns to Tax Cut Bill With Capital Gains Break at Issue
• Leadership Failures Hurt Federal Response to Katrina

Access the full stories at: www.cq.com

Online Tool Helps Hurricane Victims with New EITC and ACTC Rules. WASHINGTON — Special rules for victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma will ease the eligibility requirements for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), allowing people more options to qualify for substantial tax refunds. The Internal Revenue Service has created a special online tool to assist taxpayers. For this filing season, hurricane victims who experienced smaller earned incomes in 2005 can elect to compute their EITC and ACTC using their larger 2004 earned incomes. The option could result in a larger tax refund. The option is limited to individuals who lived in the Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma disaster areas .The 2004 earned income also must be higher than the 2005 income to exercise the income option. The IRS has developed applications on its Web site and disaster telephone hotline to help taxpayers who lost their prior tax records to take advantage of this special election without filing delays. Hurricane victims can access their 2004 earned income amounts using the new Your 2004 Earned Income Option on IRS.gov and entering two shared secrets - personal information known only to the taxpayer and IRS. Taxpayers without web access can use an automated telephone application by calling 866-562-5227. The income option is part of a broader Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, and the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 passed by Congress. The optional income selection does not apply to other items on the tax return, and, if selected for EITC, must apply for ACTC as well. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. It is intended, in part, to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. Individuals must meet certain income limitations and, if claiming a child, must meet certain rules. The Additional Child Tax Credit may be available to certain taxpayers if they have three or more qualifying children or if they have earned income that exceeds the base amount for the year. The base amount of earned income needed can be found in the Instructions for Form 8812. The Additional Child Tax Credit is for certain taxpayers who receive less than the full amount of the Child Tax Credit. The Additional Child Tax Credit may give you a refund even if you do not owe any tax. A qualifying child for both EITC and ACTC purposes must meet certain residency and relationship requirements. However, the new tax relief laws also allow the IRS to grant leeway for victims who were unable to maintain the residency requirement. Generally, a child must live in the same household with the taxpayer for more than half the year. Also, for taxpayers living in any of the declared disaster areas, grants from state programs, charitable organizations or employers to cover medical, transportation or temporary housing expenses should not be included in their income and will not affect their eligibility for EITC. Additional information about EITC and the ACTC as well as the Child Tax Credit in general is available on IRS.gov by reviewing or downloading Publication 596, Earned Income Credit, and Publication 972, Child Tax Credit. For additional hurricane tax relief information, see Fact Sheet 2006-12 and Publication 2194, Disaster Losses Kit for Individuals, which details tax relief available to people affected by the hurricanes. Also, the IRS has created Publication 4492, Information for Taxpayers Affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, that addresses all tax relief issues for hurricane victims. www.irs.gov.

New SBA Web Portal MY BIZ for Women Offers Women Entrepreneurs New Online Tool for Business Start-Up. WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration last week announced the launch of MY BIZ for Women, a new online tool designed to provide comprehensive business information and assistance to women entrepreneurs. MY BIZ for Women is designed to be the first step for all women business owners, providing one-stop access to information for women entrepreneurs highlighting the best resources the government has to offer. The Web portal provides information on starting and growing a small business, gaining access to capital and contracting opportunities and links to other government agencies and SBA resource partners offering business counseling, a state-by-state listing of SBA’s Women’s Business Centers and other resource information. “Women-owned small businesses in the United States are rapidly growing – they are starting businesses at twice the rate of all businesses,” said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. “The introduction of MY BIZ for Women is critically important to help new women entrepreneurs start and grow businesses in this country. The SBA is committed to helping women entrepreneurs obtain access to information and opportunities that will allow them to break down economic development barriers, which will allow them to start and grow their small business.” MY BIZ for Women will provide easy online access to the latest information and business resources, serving as a single point of entry for women entrepreneurs to government resources. Highlights of the new Web portal feature up-to-date information on the issues of women in business, including Women’s Business Data & Research; Inspiring Success Stories; Business Tips and Upcoming Events. omen will be able to gain valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship from monthly guest columnists who will share their wisdom and experience from unique perspectives. They can also subscribe to The Women’s Perspective, a free SBA newsletter for women in business. The MY BIZ for Women Web site can be found at http://www.SBA.gov/women.

NASWA Workforce Bulletin Headlines – January 27, 2006:

• EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR NASWA WINTER POLICY FORUM EXPIRES NEXT WEEK
• FED VICE PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AT NASWA WINTER POLICY FORUM
• CBO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT NASWA WINTER POLICY FORUM
• AUSTERE FY 2007 WORKFORCE SYSTEM BUDGET REQUEST EXPECTED
• BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS TARGET IMPROVEMENTS TO QUALITY OF US WORKERS
• NASWA TO REQUEST STATE INPUT ON IMPACT OF FY 2006 APPROPRIATIONS LOOKING AHEAD TO FY 2007
• SENATE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT
• STUDY ESTIMATES MILITARY RESERVISTS' INCOME RISES WHEN CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN A COMBAT ZONE
• WRIS USE IN 2005 INCREASES 84 PERCENT FROM YEAR BEFORE
• WRIS WATCH WEBSITE IS VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR SYSTEM INFORMATION
• THE FUTURE OF OUTSOURCING
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS 2006

For the complete stories go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/
bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu012706.cfm.

Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and Notices

For additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.

Featured Opportunity:

Workforce Florida releases RFP: “Workforce Education Cluster Center for Biotechnology”. NEW! This Request for Proposals is seeking innovative proposals from public and private postsecondary vocational training providers or other educational institutions for the development of a state-of-the-art, industry-driven training center. It is important that prospective respondents understand that it is not the intent of this solicitation to utilize exclusively an existing biotechnology program but rather to augment existing programs through the utilization of biotech curricula Workforce Florida, Inc. (WFI) has already acquired or expansion/modification of that WFI-acquired curricula based on industry needs. Clearly, it is not WFI’s intent to merely utilize or expand existing programs. The intent of this initiative is the implementation of a process that can build upon existing programs but must utilize WFI’s curricula and must incorporate an extensive process of obtaining industry input. DO NOT presume that, since you may have obtained industry input to develop the programs that you currently offer, that effort satisfies the intent of this RFP relative to involving businesses within the industry in the formation of this cluster center. WFI will accept proposals from Florida public or licensed private educational or vocational training providers ONLY. The following organizations are therefore eligible to submit proposals:

• Florida school districts or school district technical centers; or,
• Florida private vocational schools that have a current license issued by the Commission on Independent Education; or,
• Florida community colleges; or,
• Florida public universities; or,
• Florida private colleges and universities.

DEADLINE for receipt of proposals: March 8, 2006 5:00 PM, Eastern. For the complete RFP go to: http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/rfp/index.htm#requests. Contact person: Mike Johnson, WFI via email mjohnson@workforceflorida.com.

State Grants

Transitional Housing for Foster Care Youths

Federal Grants

Basic Center Program

Community-Based Abstinence Education Program

Family Centered Treatment Grants for Adolescents and their Families

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)/Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR)

Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) Program (Repeat)

FY 2006 Food Stamp Outreach Grant Competition (Repeat)

Foundation Grants

McKenzie Foundation Grants

Katrina’s Kids Community Service Grants

Integrating Literacy Grants

Dollar General Literacy Foundation 2006-2007 Grants (Repeat)

Scholarships/Awards

2006 ETA Recognition of Excellence Awards

2006 Florida Literacy Awards

Gloria Barron Prize Awards for Young Heroes

Upcoming Meetings, Conferences and Events

Workforce Florida Board and Related Meetings Schedule:

For up-to-date WFI board meeting info please check the calendar at the WFI website.

February 9–10, 2006
Employ Florida Communication Consortium Meeting
Ocala, FL
Hosted by CLM Workforce Connection
Contact: Lucia Fishburne, WFI lfishburne@workforceflorida.com

February 15, 2006
Executive Directors Meeting (Partners Meeting)
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center - Jacksonville
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com

February 16, 2006
Workforce Florida Board of Directors & Council Meetings
Council/Committee Meetings 10:00am – 12:00pm
Board of Directors Meeting 1:00 – 4:00pm
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center - Jacksonville
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com

Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:

February 27 - March 1, 2006
NASWA Winter Policy Forum 2006
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, D.C.
NEW! The Forum includes stimulating policy discussions, as well as vendor exhibits on emerging services and technologies. State Workforce Agencies are encouraged to inform contractors/vendors of exhibit opportunities - they will have an opportunity to introduce their companies' products and services in a "Two-Minute Drill" during the opening plenary session. Exhibits will be open throughout the conference in an area that also features refreshments for conference attendees during session breaks and an evening reception. Sponsors also will be able to gain recognition at several levels by supporting one or more meal functions. Please encourage vendors you work with to take advantage of these opportunities as soon as possible as space is limited. The deadline for hotel reservations and early bird conference registration and exhibitor registration is February 3, 2006. Exhibit space will be granted on a first-come basis. For additional information visit the Workforce ATM niche site at: http://www.workforceatm.org/wpforum06/index04.cfm. Please contact Nina Bustria at nbustria@naswa.org or at 202.434.8020 with any questions.

March 1-3, 2006
Front Porch Florida 2006 Redevelopment Conference
Orlando, Florida
NEW! The Office of Urban Opportunity is hosting its 2006 Front Porch Florida Redevelopment Conference in an effort to stimulate economic development activities in areas that need severe revitalization and redevelopment. The purpose of this conference is to bring together stakeholders that are willing to address the challenges associated with blighted areas such as housing, local businesses, workforce training and education and other redevelopment issues. For more information please visit: http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/fpf/Conference/index.cfm.

April 3, 2006
Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance’s 2nd Annual Professional Career Expo
“ Opening Doors: The Right Job/The Right Talent”
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tampa Convention Center
NEW! The expo will offer professionals with four-year degrees plus minimum two years experience in their field a chance to meet and interview with more than 40 area employers and feature innovative workshop presentations on how to prepare for and compete in the workforce. Jeff Taylor, founder of well-known job search engine Monster.com will be the featured keynote speaker. For more information, visit www.workforcetampa.com or call 813-740-4680 x 237.

May 15-26, 2006
Rural Tourism and Economic Development Summit
Gainesville, Florida
This event seeks to unite tourism and economic development officials to improve quality of life in Rural Florida. Topics include:

• Best practices and real world success stories of both tourism and development
• Using technology to advance tourism and development in rural Florida
• Ways to implement the Enterprise Florida “7-point Plan for Rural Florida.”

For more information, go to www.ncfrpc.org [Click on “Upcoming Events” and then “Rural Tourism and Economic Development Summit May 2006”] or call Jayne Moraski 352-955-2200 x.106 or via email moraski@ncfrpc.org.

USDOL’s Workforce Tools of the Trade Workforce Investment Systemwide Events Page. http://www.workforcetools.org/calendar.asp

Odds and Ends

Weekly earnings of wage and salary workers: Fourth Quarter 2005 U.S. - Women earn an average of $588 per week (by U.S. Department of Labor). Median weekly earnings of the nation's 104.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $659 in the fourth quarter of 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This was 1.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.8 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period. Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary worker usually earns. Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:
--Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $588 per week, or 80.4 percent of the $731 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (87.4 percent) and Hispanics or Latinos (86.3 percent) than among whites (79.8 percent) or Asians (76.7 percent).
--Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $579 per week, 76.9 percent of the median for white men ($753). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($506) were 84.2 percent of those for their white counterparts ($601). Overall, median earnings of His- panics or Latinos who worked full time ($479) were lower than those of blacks ($533), whites ($682), and Asians ($767).
--Among men, those 45 to 54 years old had the highest median weekly earnings, ($865). Among women, earnings were highest for those age 55 to 64 ($669).
--Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in managerial, professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings--$1,130
for men and $829 for women. Men and women in service jobs earned the least.
--Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $407, compared with $585 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,029 for college graduates holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master’s degree and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,887 or more per week, compared with $1,997 or more for their female counterparts. Annual Averages for 2004 and 2005: In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2004 and 2005 annual average weekly earnings for major demographic, occupational, and educational attainment groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2006 issue of Employment and Earnings. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/wkyeng.nr0.htm

The Affordability Index - A New Tool for Measuring the True Affordability of a Housing Choice (by the Center for Transit-Oriented Development and the Center for Neighborhood Technology January 2006). This brief describes a new information tool developed by the Urban Markets Initiative to quantify, for the first time, the impact of transportation costs on the affordability of housing choices. This brief explains the background, creation, and purpose of this new tool. http://www.brookings.edu/metro/umi/20060127_affindex.htm.

From Southern Compass -- January 31, 2006:

• MIT study gauges U.S. teenagers’ attitudes towards inventions & innovations. A new study by the MIT finds that the majority of teens believe new inventions and innovations can solve global issues such as clean water, world hunger, disease eradication, pollution reduction and energy conservation. In addition, fourteen percent of survey participants indicated that engineering would be their top career choice while only nine percent indicated that science fields would be their top choice. A summary of the findings can be found at the MIT website: http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-06index.html.
• Article proposes linking science & entrepreneurship in U.S. schools. The fact that China is producing far more engineers and scientists than the U.S. is often cited as a major competitive threat, but perhaps it is more important to focus on getting our own kids enthusiastic about math and science, and to resist the impulse to exclude foreign talent. This is the view recently expressed by Carl Shramm and Robert Litan of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Reforming immigration policy is only half the story. In the long run, more American youth need to choose technical careers. They suggest doing this by establishing a link between science and entrepreneurship in the schools. Their article, "Foreign Students Who Study Engineering Deserve Citizenship," was published in Inc. Magazine, October 2005. The full text can be found at: http://www.inc.com/magazine/20051001/currency.html.

Quote for the Week:

"There is a spirit and a need and a man at the beginning of every great human advance.
Every one of these must be right for that particular moment of history,
or nothing happens."

Coretta Scott King

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this web site may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.