CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Expansion will create 50 new jobs in Orange County. TALLAHASSEE
- Governor Jeb Bush last week applauded L-3 Communications
Advanced Laser Systems Technology (L-3 ALST), a laser and
laser range finding systems manufacturer, for expanding its
headquarters, research and development and manufacturing
operations in Orlando. The company’s expansion plans
will create an estimated 50 high-value jobs in Orange County
and generate new capital investments totaling more than $300,000. "L-3
Advanced Laser Systems Technology is a great example of the
diverse innovation-based companies that comprise Florida's
growing technology sector," said Governor Bush. "We
must continue to foster an environment that encourages capital
investment and innovative partnerships and creates high-wage
jobs for Floridians.” L-3 ALST designs, develops and
manufactures lasers and laser range-finding systems for various
applications, including military surveillance, fire control,
navigation, laser altimetry and interplanetary space probes.
The designs developed at L-3 ALST have surpassed all industry
standards for efficiency, compact size, ruggedness and low-cost
manufacturing. Customers include the U.S. Department of Defense,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, select U.S. Government
intelligence agencies, aerospace contractors, commercial
telecommunications and wireless customers. Founded in 1987,
the company has grown to 70 employees at its Edgewater Commerce
Parkway location in Orlando. For more information on Governor
Bush’s economic development initiatives, please visit
www.myflorida.com.
Travolta and Preston recognized for their contributions
to Florida’s film and entertainment industry. TALLAHASSEE – Governor
Jeb Bush last week welcomed Oscar-nominated actor John Travolta,
actress Kelly Preston and Florida residents to the Entertainment
Industry Appreciation Reception, hosted by Film Florida,
at the Governor’s Mansion. Governor Bush recognized
Travolta’s recent appointment as a Florida Film and
Entertainment Advisory Council Member of Distinguished Honor
and presented Preston with an Outstanding Achievement in
Film award. “I am pleased to recognize John Travolta
and Kelly Preston as celebrated members of Florida’s
film and entertainment community,” said Governor Bush. “Florida
is proud to be a world-class production center for an industry
creating high-wage jobs for Floridians.” John Travolta
most recently filmed three features in Florida, including
the upcoming drama Lonely Hearts, starring James Gandolfini,
Salma Hayek and Jared Leto, in Jacksonville. Travolta also
shot the comic book adaptation of The Punisher, starring
Thomas Jane, on location in Tampa and St. Petersburg, and
Basic, starring Connie Nielsen and Samuel L. Jackson, in
Jacksonville. Combined, the three films generated an estimated
$24 million for Florida’s economy. “With the
help of Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature, and the
support of high-profile and hard-working Floridians like
John Travolta and Kelly Preston, we are aggressively competing
with other states and countries to bring new productions
to our state,” said State Film Commissioner Paul Sirmons.
In Florida, film and entertainment is a $3.9 billion industry,
representing more than 5,500 businesses and employing more
than 34,000 Floridians at an average salary of $53,000 per
year. Currently, Florida offers a $10 million Entertainment
Industry Financial Incentive which reimburses up to 15 percent
of a production company’s expenditures incurred in
the state, up to $2 million. “In our state we are fortunate
to have the infrastructure, crews and talent to support increased
production. We’re extremely thankful for the support
from within the industry, especially from two of our most
famous residents, Kelly Preston and John Travolta,” said
Ed Stamm, President of Film Florida. “Not only are
both talented and accomplished actors, but they give back
to the community through their charity outreach. They are
tremendous assets to the industry and our Film Florida community.”
Film Florida is a not-for-profit corporation representing
private industry, local film commissions, industry associations
and labor organizations in Florida's film and entertainment
industries. It offers businesses and individuals the benefits
of a statewide trade association, promoting the creation
of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries
and encouraging economic development and tourism. For more
information on Film Florida, please visit: www.filmflorida.org.
For additional information on filming in Florida, or other
incentive programs available to the film and entertainment
industry, please visit the Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment
(OFE) at www.filminflorida.com.
Websites aide job seekers impacted by Hurricane
Katrina (from Workforce Development
Online - Issue 10). In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,
rapid response took on a whole new
meaning for workforce regions in the gulf and states throughout
the country that offered assistance. According to analysts'
estimates, as many as 150,000 jobs were lost as a result
of the destruction. Workforce boards were challenged to provide
immediate assistance and job leads to help people get back
to work and rebuild their lives. Fortunately for residents
in Louisiana and Florida, systems capable of responding to
the challenge were already in place.
The State of Louisiana Department of Labor's Virtual OneStop
and Workforce Florida Inc’s Employ Florida Marketplace
became the focal point of information and job search services
for job seekers. The web based systems, derived from the
Virtual OneStop suite of workforce services software by Geographic
Solutions, provided both states with the ability to quickly
respond to the customized recruitment needs required in the
aftermath of Katrina.
In the state of Florida, within a 24 hour time frame, the
Employ Florida Marketplace web site was altered to provide
immediate assistance to affected job seekers. In Louisiana,
Virtual OneStop usage skyrocketed, exceeding 70,000 unique
visits per day. For the complete story go to: http://www.workdevonline.com/article.asp?id=75.
Access the latest issue of Workforce Development Online at:
http://www.workdevonline.com/
Pledge a job for youth – invest in the future of the
workforce. CLEARWATER – Job-A-Thon2006 is now underway
in Pinellas County and it needs the support of the business
community to make it a success. Job-A-Thon is a partnership
between WorkNet Pinellas, Junior Achievement, St. Petersburg
College, Pinellas County Schools and local business that
assists high school students to prepare for, obtain and maintain
employment over the course of the summer school recess. The
Job-A-Thon partnership is actively looking for job opportunities
for students participating in the program. By pledging a
job for these young adults, ages 17-21, businesses can gain
exposure in the schools and help influence career path choices
of the students when they’re young, ultimately making
an investment in the future of the workforce. Job placements
will begin May 22, 2006 and continue through June 30, 2006,
with the possibility of full-time employment thereafter if
the employer feels the student has demonstrated motivation
and successful work habits. If you are a business interested
in pledging a job, please contact Garry Burlingame at (727)
791-5835 or visit www.worknetpinellas.org for a pledge card.
Central Florida hosts career strategy seminars. ORLANDO,
FL… WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA (WCF) will host several
career strategy seminars for degreed professionals who are
unemployed and underemployed in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole
and Sumter counties. The courses will take place from 9am
to 4pm on April 13, 2006 at WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA (1097
Sand Pond Road, Suite 1009) in Lake Mary, and from 9am to
4pm on April 27, 2006 at DeVry University (4000 Millenia
Blvd.) in Orlando. Seminar presenter Ginger McGraw will discuss
career strategies focusing on job search techniques, resume
and cover letter development, networking strategies, interview
skills and negotiation strategies at the no cost events.
McGraw is a career coach with over 14 years of experience
in working with individuals in career transition. Seating
is limited and advance registration is required to attend
the free courses. For locations and times or to register,
call the seminar RSVP line at (407) 531-1222, ext. 1216. “WCF
is continuously trying to offer Central Florida job seekers
the tools they need to advance professionally and successfully
find employment opportunities,” said WCF President & CEO
Gary Earl. “This type of seminar gives them an advantage
that they may not otherwise have.” In addition, WCF
offers alternative courses for non-degreed professionals
in Central Florida on topics such as developing a career
path, resume writing, discovering skills and strengths, PC
101, exploring the job market and others. Additional information
on these courses is available by contacting individual ONE-STOP
CAREER CENTERS at 1-800-757-4598. For more information, visit
WCF online at www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com.
The Nation
CQ Today Midday Update – Wednesday, March 29,
2006, 2:02p.m.
Today in Washington:
House: Considers a bill (HR 609) to amend and extend the Higher
Education Act, which authorizes more than $70 billion in federal
aid to college campuses and students. Also considers under
suspension of the rules a measure (H Res 736) advocating religious
tolerance in Afghanistan and debates a motion to instruct conferees
on the tax cut reconciliation bill (HR 4297).
Senate: Expected to pass a lobbying and ethics overhaul bill
(S 2349) before turning to immigration legislation (S 2454).
The President: Meets with Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo;
speaks at a Freedom House event on democratic development in
Africa; travels to Cancun, Mexico, for meetings with leaders
of Canada and Mexico.
Articles:
- House Budget Would Meet Bush Discretionary
Cap, Nick Mandatory Spending
- Hastert Signals Flexibility on
Guest Worker Program
- House to Vote Next Week on ‘527’ Campaign
Finance Bill
- Senate Panel Seeks to Expand Oversight of
Indian Gaming
- Debate Over Higher Education Bill Turns Partisan
Access the full stories at: www.cq.com Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program and Welfare-to-Work
Tax Credit: ETA seeks three-year extension (without change)
of
electronic reporting forms, administrative forms, handbook,
and technical assistance and review guide. The Employment and
Training Administration (ETA) is current soliciting comments
concerning the proposed three-year extension (without change)
of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program and the Welfare-to-Work
Tax Credit (WtWTC) electronic reporting form ETA 9058;; administrative
forms ETA 9057, 9059, 9061-9063 and 9065; and the following
program related documents: January 2006, Revised Third Edition
of ETA Handbook No. 408; "Guidance for the Work Opportunity
Tax Credit Program and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit Allotments
Fiscal Year (FY) 2005" TEGL; and the Technical Assistance
and Review Guide. For the complete article including links
to documents go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/printer_friendly.cfm?
results_art_filename=wotcfedreg.htm.
Esther Johnson named Job Corps National Director,
first African-American woman to head program. WASHINGTON, March 24 /U.S. Newswire/
-- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment
of Esther R. Johnson as the new national director of the Office
of Job Corps, within the U.S. Department of Labor. Ms. Johnson,
a seasoned government executive with considerable career public
service experience in education and employment policy, is the
first African-American woman to head the Job Corps in the program's
41-year history. "Esther Johnson is a proven leader who
has a passion for expanding economic opportunities for young
people through education and training," said Secretary
of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "Her excellent credentials as
an educator, workforce professional and government executive
will give Job Corps the strong, results-oriented leadership
it needs to keep helping young people succeed." "The
Job Corps has a proud history, and I am excited about the opportunity
to build on this legacy by pursuing educational and high skills
training strategies for our youth that will keep them in step
with the needs of the 21st Century workforce," said Esther
Johnson. Johnson is a life-long public servant with extensive
experience at both federal and state levels. Prior to her appointment
as national director of the Office of Job Corps, Johnson served
as administrator for the Office of Performance and Technology
in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the
Department of Labor (DOL). Within ETA, Johnson has risen rapidly
though several leadership assignments with increasing responsibility,
serving as comptroller, associate administrator for the Office
of Policy and Research, division chief in the Office of Workforce
Security and special assistant to the director of Unemployment
Insurance. Prior to her service at DOL, Johnson worked with
the Arlington County Public Schools in Arlington, Virginia.
She holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University and both Master
of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in education from Virginia
Commonwealth University. In her new leadership role with the
Office of Job Corps, Johnson will administer the program and
its 122 Job Corps centers across the country. The Job Corps
serves over 65,000 disadvantaged youth, ages 16-24, each year.
The largely residential program offers opportunities to secure
academic and vocational credentials and assists students in
securing placements in education, employment or military service
upon graduation. U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible
on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov. © 2006 U.S. Newswire
202-347-2770/
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) releases
the LETTER REPORT: Offshoring in Six Human Services Programs:
Offshoring
Occurs in Most States, Primarily in Customer Service and Software
Development. GAO-06-342, March 28. Access the full report at:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-342. Access the Highlights
at: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06342high.pdf.
Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin -
March 24, 2006.
- FY 2007 APPROPRIATIONS: OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE
ON THE LOOMING DEBATE
- GOVERNORS' TASK FORCE ON TANF SENDS
RECOMMENDATIONS TO HHS
- ETA SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSED DATA
COLLECTION FOR THE IMPACT EVALUATION OF TAA PROGRAM
For the full articles go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/
bulletin/bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu032406.cfm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
(none)
State Grants (none)
Federal Grants
Migrant Education Even Start Family Literacy Program (MEES)
Adolescent Family Life Care Demonstration Project
Refugee and Entrant Assistance Targeted Assistance Discretionary
Grant (TAG)
Community Services Block Grant Program -- Community Economic
Development-Operational Projects (Repeat)
Workforce Investment Act-Small Grassroots Organizations Connecting
with the One-Stop Delivery System (Repeat)
Foundation Grants
Jobs to Careers: Promoting Work-Based Learning for Quality
Care
Scholarships/Awards
(none)
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.
April 19, 2006
WFI Council Chairmen Teleconference - 9:00am - 10:00am
WFI Executive Committee Teleconference - 10:00am - 11:30am
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com.
May 4–5, 2006
Employ Florida Communication Consortium Meeting
Daytona Beach, FL
Hosted by WDB Center for Business Excellence
Contact: Lucia Fishburne, WFI lfishburne@workforceflorida.com
May 17, 2006
Executive Directors Meeting (Partners Meeting)
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
May 18, 2006
Workforce Florida Board of Directors & Council Meetings
Council/Committee Meetings 10:00am – 12:00pm
Board of Directors Meeting 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
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
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.
April 5, 2006
Workforce3 One Webinar: Tomorrow's Jobs 2004-14 - The New Employment
Projections
Time: 2:00pm Eastern (1pm/Central, 12pm/Mountain, 11am/Pacific) Length:
90 minutes
NEW! Workforce3 One is pleased to offer this webinar highlighting
the BLS 2014 employment and industry projections. Presenters: Jon
Sargent, Manager, Occupational Outlook Studies, Office of Occupational
Statistics and Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics;
Moderator: Harvey Ollis, Manager, Workforce Information and E-Tools
Team, Division of Workforce System Support, Employment and Training
Administration. Description: The expanding scope and critical need
for workforce information and economic analysis is key to developing
and maintaining a competitive workforce. States and regional economic
areas are working to leverage assets, address challenges, and create
talent development strategies. Effectively developing, accessing,
and analyzing the wide array of data necessary to accomplish this
in a globally competitive environment requires new strategies and
methodologies and a transformation within the workforce investment
system about how we see our role in collaboration with other strategic
partners. This webinar will present updated information on one of
the key sources of national and state occupational employment projections.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will present details on the
national Occupational Outlook 2004-2014, released in December, 2006.
The release of BLS's national employment projections will be followed
by state-level and metro-level employment projections developed by
each state, which provide information critical to state and local
workforce system planning. The webinar presentation will describe
the four analysis phases in the development of projections, including:
1) Labor force, 2) Economic growth, 3) Industry output and employment,
and 4) Occupational employment. Registration for this webinar is
limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Click
the link below to login to Workforce3 One and register for free today.
http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=91
April 12, 2006
White House Regional Conference on Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives
Jacksonville, Florida
8:00am - 5:00pm
Hyatt Jacksonville
On Wednesday, April 12, the White House and the Departments
of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Veterans Affairs,
Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development,
and Education, the Agency for International Development
and the Small Business Administration will host a conference
in Jacksonville to help faith-based and other community
organizations learn more about President Bush's Faith-Based
and Community Initiative. The Federal government is working
to make sure that faith-based and community groups can
compete on an equal footing for Federal dollars, receive
greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic
barriers. The conference is free, but pre-registration
is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Visit http://www.fbci.gov to register online.
We strongly encourage you to register online. If you
are unable to register online, print the registration
form attached to this email. Complete the form and fax
it to 703-416-1935. If you are not able to view the online
file, please call 202-456-6718 to have a form faxed to
you. Please register by Thursday, April 6. If you must
cancel your registration, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com or a fax to the number listed above so we may accommodate
as many people as possible. The conference is part of
a series of regional conferences that are being held
around the country. These conferences will provide participants
with information about Federal programs that are suited
to their needs, the Federal funding process, and the
legal requirements that may apply to recipients of Federal
funds. They will also offer practical information on
the grant-writing process and facilitate opportunities
to network with government officials. For more information,
please call 202-456-6718, send an email to fbci@dtihq.com,
or visit www.fbci.gov.
April 19 – 21, 2006.
2006 Annual Conference Florida Association of Partners
in Education
Hilton Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Village
Florida Association of Partners in Education Conference
is presented each spring. The conference is packed with
cutting-edge ideas and new programs. Keynote speakers
bring the most up-to-date information that will both
inform and entertain. More than 800 conference attendees
representing the volunteer sector from business, community,
government and schools focus on the positive impact community
involvement initiatives can have on education and student
achievement. The Florida Commissioner of Education’s
Business Recognition Awards is a special addition to
Florida Association of Partners in Education Conference.
This highly prestigious event recognizes honored businesses
and organizations throughout Florida for exemplary partnership
involvement. One of the highlights of the conference
is the recognition of Florida's Outstanding Volunteers.
Students, parents, grandparents and business partners,
representing their regions, will be among those individuals
honored for their contribution to education in the state
of Florida. For more information or to register go to:
http://www.flpie.net/.
April 23-26, 2006
GITA's Annual Conference 29
No Barriers: Connected. Responsive. Prepared
Tampa Convention Center
Tampa, Florida USA
It's the premier geospatial event of the year! GITA’s
Annual Conference and Exhibition is the most highly regarded
educational event for professionals involved in geospatial
information technologies. Annual Conference 29 will provide
you with better ways to plan, design, manage, and maintain
your geospatial systems and operations. This prestigious event
will present an exciting technical program, including one-and-a-half
days of in-depth seminars followed by two-and-a-half days of
educational sessions. This year's conference theme, No Barriers:
Connected. Responsive. Prepared. — reflects the fact
that professionals in geospatial technology must respond to
growing business needs to prepare for dynamic situations. Preconference
seminars will offer attendees the opportunity to concentrate
on some key issues that are critical to successful project
planning and implementation. Annual Conference 29 will feature
12 half-day seminars, beginning on Sunday morning and concluding
on Monday. Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in using
geospatial information technologies is invited to attend. Discussion
topics involve geographic information systems (GIS), information
technology (IT), mobile and field computing, supervisory control
and data acquisition (SCADA), network operations management,
work management systems, enterprise application integration,
critical infrastructure protection, and other related technologies.
The conference program will address topics of interest to executives
and managers in government agencies; electric, gas, and water/wastewater
utilities; telecommunications companies; pipeline companies;
the public sector; and other organizations interested in using
geospatial information to enhance their bottom line. Download
the Official Conference Program at: http://www.gita.org/events/annual/29/Program.pdf.
April 26-28, 2006
Techsouth 2006 Conference
Lafayette, LA
NEW! TechSouth, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated
to fostering technology-based economic development, is
hosting TechSouth 2006 April 26-28 in Lafayette, Louisiana.
TechSouth promotes collaboration between government,
business, and technology to make technology happen. The
conference includes keynote speakers such as Eng Lim
Goh, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
of SGI and Ron Sege, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Tropos Networks. Seminars will address a variety of
topics including wireless technology, business technology
success stories, and the role of technology following
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The 2005 conference boasted
1,500 national and international attendees. The conference
is free with VIP passes available for $150. Learn more
about the conference at the TechSouth website: http://www.techsouth.org/
May 8 – 12, 2006
Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference will celebrate
its 20th anniversary in Ft. Lauderdale May 8 to 12 with
a vast offering of training sessions, working groups,
meetings and receptions. Upon registering for the conference,
attendees can choose from six tracks: Emergency Services,
Human Services, Infrastructure, Policy/Planning, Recovery/Mitigation,
and the catch-all category of "General." (Choosing
a session in one track does not prevent registrants from
choosing other sessions from a different track.) For
more detailed information, visit the conference website.
The early registration deadline is March 31 at midnight.
For more, go to: www.flghc.org.
May 9-10, 2006
Agricultural Business and Workforce System Integration
Forums (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration - ETA)
Tampa, FL
The two forums that were postponed from Fall 2005
due to ETA’s hurricane recovery efforts have been
rescheduled for Spring 2006. They will take place on
April 20-21 in Dallas, Texas and on May 9-10 in Tampa,
Florida. There is no registration fee or charge for attending
a forum. However, forum attendees are responsible for
related expenses (travel, lodging, and food). The preliminary
agenda is available at: http://www.tatc.com/integrationforum/AgForumAgenda-Revised1-10-06.pdf
Forum hotel and travel information for the Tampa meeting
is available at: Tampa, FL (May 9-10, 2006) http://www.tatc.com/integrationforum/AgForumAgenda-Revised1-10-06.pdf
If you have other questions about the forums, or if your
participation will require assistive technology or other
disability accommodations, please contact Alisa Tanaka-Dodge
of TATC Consulting at (202) 408-8282 ext. 234 or tanakaa@tatc.com.
Pre-registration will close one week before each forum.
On-site registration will be available.
May 15-16, 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.
May 17-19, 2006
2006 Growth Management Summit
Rosen Plaza, Orlando
The Department and the Florida Regional Councils Association
are pleased to announce open registration for the 2006 Growth
Management Summit. Early registration is $175 until April 30
when it will increase to $200. Hotel rooms are $99 until April
30. Visit http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/gmw/index.cfm to register on line, to read the registration brochure, and
for other information.
May 23 – 25, 2006
Third Annual Virtual OneStop/Virtual LMI User Conference
Clearwater Beach, Florida
NEW! Geographic Solutions' will be hosting its third annual
Virtual OneStop/Virtual LMI User Conference in Clearwater Beach,
Florida from May 23 – 25, 2006. Join over 100 colleagues
from over 20 states for workshops, roundtable discussions,
and presentations that address the needs of today’s workforce
management professional. The theme of this year's conference
is Demand Driven Workforce Solutions – using the tools
available to best meet the needs of workforce customers. Participants
who attend the conference will learn about workforce topics
from Geographic Solutions staff, guest speakers, and from the
lessons learned from colleagues and peers. Instruction will
be given about the current Virtual OneStop software and potential
OneStop solutions in a series of structured and interactive
workshops, as well as informal gatherings. Conference attendees
will have the opportunity to build a network among their fellow
workforce professionals, and to learn how to maximize the potential
of the current Virtual OneStop or Virtual LMI software that
is currently available in their state [NOTE: the Employ Florida
Marketplace is a VOS product].
The conference will include:
- Updates and directions from ETA.
- A sneak preview of Virtual OneStop release 8.0.
- Concurrent
Workshops in:
- Case Management
- Assessments
- Reporting and Performance
- Labor Exchange and Job
Spidering
- Labor Market Information
- "Best Practices" – Using Virtual OneStop
to create Demand Driven Workforce Solutions.
- Discussion
of the currently planned Virtual OneStop enhancements (with
customer input to prioritize and amend the planned
enhancements).
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday and
Wednesday, breakfast and lunch on Thursday.
An updated agenda is available on Geographic Solutions'
website. This agenda incorporates a number of suggestions
made at
the conclusion of the 2005 conference, including:
- Workshops
focused by function, not software module;
- More tracks: LMI,
Case Management and Reporting, Assessments, Labor Exchange
and Job Spidering;
- More "Best Practices" sessions;
- More opportunities
for informal workshops, "brown bag" lunch
sessions on topics selected by attendees; and
- A chance
to review Geographic Solutions proposed enhancements prior
to the group discussion (the list of proposed enhancements
will be sent to conference registrants approximately
one month in advance).
For more information on this event, including information
on how to register and hotel accommodations, please visit
the
Geographic Solutions website at: http://www.geosolinc.com/conf.asp or
call 727-786-7955 and ask to speak to Vicki Stonecipher. May 23 - 25 2006
National Rapid Response Summit
St. Louis Missouri
Hosted by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA),
the Summit will bring together frontline workforce professionals,
policymakers, economic development professionals, employers,
and other workforce system partners to explore new directions
in Rapid Response.
The theme of this year's Summit is Gateway to Opportunities:
Strengthening Our Communities through Economic and Workforce
Development, and features an agenda that is the result of a
collaborative effort between federal, state, and local levels,
as well as key partners and stakeholders. Registration Deadline:
May 1, 2006. Registration fee: $150.00 USD. To view full information,
including online registration and hotel information, go to:
http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/whatsnew/eta_default.cfm?id=1381.
June 2-4, 2006
The 8th Annual Family Café Conference
Caribe Royale
Orlando, Florida
The Department of Education is proud to support the 8th
Annual Family Café Conference and Governor’s Summit
on Disabilities as part of our commitment to provide a quality
education to all students. During the annual three-day conference,
individuals with disabilities and special health care needs
and their families have an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge,
to interact with state agencies’ representatives and
private providers, and to expand their network of supports.
Pre-conference registration for the 8th Annual Family Café Conference
will begin on February 14, 2006. There is no conference registration
fee. Limited financial assistance will be provided to families
by Family Café. The financial assistance funds through
Family Café are available on a first-come, first-serve
basis, and have historically been exhausted soon after registration
opens. Therefore, we encourage districts to make families of
students with disabilities aware of the pre-conference registration
and financial assistance as soon as possible. We also encourage
you to financially support families to attend the 8th Annual
Family Café Conference through the use of discretionary
grants. As part of the conference, Governor Jeb Bush will speak
at the 8th Annual Governor’s Summit on Disabilities on
Friday, June 2, 2006, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Participants
may either register online at www.familycafe.net or call the
Family Café office at 1-888-309-2233 to request a registration
brochure be mailed. Pre-registration ends on March 31, 2006.
June 4-6, 2006
The Southern Innovation Summit
New Orleans, LA
NEW! The Southern Innovation Summit will focus on the creation,
accumulation and application of knowledge for the South's businesses,
universities, citizens and governments, and develop strategies
for increasing innovation as part of the South's economic growth
policies. The conference will feature the release of the 2006
Report on the Future of the South, with keynotes and panel
discussions featuring Tennessee Representative Zach Wamp, champion
of the East Tennessee Technology Corridor; Edward Seidel, Director
of Louisiana State University's Center for Computation & Technology;
Dr. Shirley Malcom, Director of Education Programs for the
American Association for the Advancement of Science and Ben
Ritchey, Battelle's Vice President of the Transportation Market
Sector as well as key researchers and strategists from universities
and innovation centers from across the country. Register by
March 31st and save $75 on conference registration fees. To
register online, or to download registration forms, visit:
http://www.southern.org/conf.asp. To access the agenda, visit:
http://www.southern.org/conference/2006conference/agenda.shtml
July 11-13, 2006
Workforce Innovations
Anaheim, California
NEW! Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment
and Training Administration and the American Society for Training
and Development, Workforce Innovations 2006 is one conference
you do not want to miss. The conference is shaping up to be
the biggest and best Workforce Innovations yet, with more than
3,000 participants expected.
Already confirmed conference highlights include:
- A keynote address by respected author and
PBS host, James Burke, on his interpretation of global economic
realities and
what we can do to "Innovate for the Day After Tomorrow."
- An
educational tour to the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a brand
new facility providing youth from diverse backgrounds
with opportunities for career orientation, career exploration
and career preparation.
- Tools and strategies to support you
in regional economic development efforts, whether your community
is just starting
this process or is well underway.
- Dozens of dynamic Super
Workshops, Learning Labs, Roundtable Discussions, and "Quick
Takes" on cutting edge
issues for workforce professionals and their partners from
economic
development, education, community colleges, and industry.
Register now and book your hotel on or after March 31 at:
http://www.workforceinnovations.org/registration.cfm. USDOL’s Workforce Tools of the Trade Workforce Investment
Systemwide Events Page. http://www.workforcetools.org/calendar.asp
Odds and Ends
DataPlace - one-stop for demographic data. DataPlace is
a free online source for housing and demographic data about
your community, your region, and the nation. With DataPlace,
policy makers, practitioners, members of the media, and scholars
of housing and community development can analyze, interpret,
and apply data to make educated decisions and inform others.
DataPlace makes it easier than ever before to access housing
and demographic data and display this information in colorful,
customizable maps, charts, tables, and other formats. DataPlace
is brought to you by KnowledgePlex, the premium affordable
housing and community development resource for professionals.
KnowledgePlex was created five years ago by the Fannie Mae
Foundation and a distinguished team of founding partners.
It provides a wealth of resources including documents, news,
online chats, discussion forums, multimedia, and an industry
calendar. Three years ago, the Foundation commissioned a
user study to inform a major redesign of KnowledgePlex. A
clear theme emerging from this user research was the need
to provide better access to housing and demographic data
on KnowledgePlex. Users expressed a particular interest in
data at the neighborhood level. While KnowledgePlex provides
a comprehensive source of housing-related information from
all over the United States, DataPlace complements this broad-based
resource by providing easy access to highly targeted, local
information. Both tools advance the mission of sharing knowledge
with those who are engaged in the work of providing affordable
homes and building communities. Check it out at: http://www.dataplace.org/.
From SOUTHERN COMPASS -- March 28, 2006:
- Day labor on the rise with southeast possessing
18% of nation’s informal workforce. Employment demand
in the construction industry, day laboring is becoming
a more
common practice according to the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA) study, On the Corner: Day Labor in
the United States. UCLA researchers surveyed 2,600 day
laborers
from 264 randomly selected hiring sites throughout the
U.S. More than 117,600 workers are hired or looking for
employment through the informal labor market on any given
day and these workers frequently experience unjust labor
practices. Nearly three quarters of day laborers feel
the work they do is dangerous and more than 40 percent
have
been denied wages after completing their work. The Southeast
is the nation’s third largest informal labor market
containing 18 percent of the country’s day laborers.
To learn more about the informal labor market in your
region visit: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/issr/csup/pubs/papers/item.php?id=31.
- Report says dual enrollment key to increasing
college enrollment rates. According to the U.S. Department of
Education (USDOE),
dual enrollment programs may be the key to increasing academic
achievement and college enrollment rates. The new USDOE
report, Pathways to College: Access and Success, highlights
dual
enrollment “promising practices” from five
case studies across the U.S. Successful dual enrollment
programs
create “institutional seamlessness” by allowing
high school and college guidance counselors to share student
data and create customized learning plans. Successful programs
also help middle and low performing students by providing
academic assistance and customized assessments as early
as middle school. For more information visit the USDOE
report
at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cclo/cbtrans/finalreport.pdf.
The Coming
Knowledge Drain (By Patrick J. Kiger - from Workforce
Recruiting – March 23, 2006). Offering flexibility
may help persuade workers to stay on longer, but some firms
might have to revamp the way they do business in order to
cope with the exodus. Imagine having to deal with this nightmare
scenario: One-fifth of the executives, managers and workers
with critical skills that your company needs to survive have
walked out the door. Unfortunately, that’s the real-life
predicament that companies could face as soon as 2008 because
of the aging of the baby boom generation, according to Mary
Sue Rogers, global leader of IBM Business Consulting Services’ Human
Capital Management group. "It’s like the Y2K problem," she
says. "If you don’t start early enough in preparing
for it, you’ll reach a point where no matter how much
money you throw at the problem, it won’t be enough." Access
the complete story at:
http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/24/22/06/index.php
Quote for the Week:
“Pleasure
in the job puts perfection in the work.”
Aristotle
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