CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Statement By: Governor Jeb Bush regarding new revenue
projections: “Due
to Florida’s rapidly growing economy, today's revenue
estimating conference raised tax revenue projections for
the current and next fiscal years by more than $960 million. I applaud hardworking Floridians for driving this growth,
but caution that we must adhere to our principles of fiscal
discipline to ensure this prosperity continues. As a validation
of our conservative fiscal policies, three major credit rating
agencies increased Florida’s bond rating – including
the first-ever triple A bond rating for our state. I encourage
the Florida Legislature to carry forward sufficient reserves,
enabling Florida to balance the state budget during the next
three years. This responsible approach will ensure future
Governors and Legislatures have the resources to sustain
Florida's economic viability and meet critical state needs
in the coming years. Strong reserves provide economic security
for future years, when revenues may not be as robust as they
are today. Saving money for emergencies, whether they are
catastrophic natural disasters or downturns in the economy,
and planning for long-term budget needs is good government
and sound fiscal policy. The members of the Florida Legislature
are to be commended for their steadfast commitment to addressing
issues important to all Floridians and important to the future
of our state. I look forward to working with legislative
leadership as the 2006 session continues.”
Governor Bush promotes Florida’s growing biotechnology
sector at BIO 2006 - More than 18,000 attend world’s
largest biotechnology conference in Chicago. CHICAGO - Governor
Jeb Bush yesterday addressed participants of BIO 2006, the
world’s largest biotechnology gathering, where Florida’s
expanding life sciences cluster was showcased as a model
for next generation innovation and research discovery. During
the event, Governor Bush met with leading biotechnology executives,
venture capitalists, journalists, policy makers and scientists
to promote Florida’s unique and cutting-edge biotechnology
business climate. “The biotechnology industry is key
to solidifying Florida’s future as a global hub for
innovation and groundbreaking research and development,” said
Governor Bush. “BIO 2006 is an important opportunity
to meet with the world’s brightest life scientists
and researchers, as well as visionary entrepreneurs and investors,
as we continue to promote Florida’s life sciences cluster.” In
addition to participating in an array of forums featuring
Florida’s life sciences sector, Governor Bush also
met one-on-one with a number of leading biotech companies
and hosted a luncheon for top venture capital firms to discuss
the many business opportunities Florida offers. Organized
annually by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO),
the BIO 2006 International Convention features leaders and
experts from the spheres of science, finance, business, law
and governmental policy. The program includes overviews on
the industry as well as expert panels focused on the health,
food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental sectors.
Enterprise Florida, Inc., arranged Florida’s participation
in BIO 2006, April 9-12, including sponsoring the “Florida
Pavilion” that houses more than 20 exhibit partners
from biotechnology businesses, local communities and academic
institutions. Florida’s life sciences industry, which
includes biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals
and health care is represented by more than 35,000 companies
and employs more than 632,000 workers. The Sunshine State
is increasingly recognized for its aggressive leadership
in biotechnology and related life sciences arenas, in part
through the Centers of Excellence Program and the expansion
of The Scripps Research Institute into Palm Beach County.
Championed by Governor Bush in October 2003, “Scripps
Florida” now operates with approximately 160 scientists,
technicians and administrative staff at its 40,000 square-foot
temporary lab facility on the Florida Atlantic University
campus in Jupiter. Governor Bush has made diversifying Florida's
economy a top priority, placing particular emphasis on fostering
the development of emerging technologies. The Bush/Jennings
Administration recommended an investment of $630 million
to further diversify and strengthen Florida’s economy.
The proposal includes $200 million for a world class scholars
program and a Centers of Excellence program to build and
enhance our innovation infrastructure, $75 million in tax
credits for the new Florida Capital Formation Program, $50
million to expand Florida’s Quick Action Closing Fund,
$55 million to secure Florida’s position as a leader
in the Space and Aeronautics industry and $250 million to
create the Florida Innovation Incentive Fund to bring large
scale research projects, private sector business or prestigious
institutions to our state. For more information on Governor
Bush’s economic development initiatives, please visit
www.myflorida.com.
DOL Secretary, First Lady Laura Bush at Urban Youth
Empowerment Event; Chao Awards National Urban League $20M
for Youth Program. 4/10/2006 3:01:00 PM. NEW ORLEANS, April 10 /U.S. Newswire/
-- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao joined First Lady
Laura Bush at a Helping America's Youth event highlighting
the role of faith- and community-based organizations in preparing
youth for 21st century employment opportunities. During the
event, Secretary Chao announced a $20 million grant to the
National Urban League to continue and expand its Urban Youth
Empowerment Program. National Urban League President and
CEO Marc Morial was on hand to accept the award. "The
income and self-respect that come with succeeding in a job
is critical for young people trying to turn their lives around," said
Chao. "With this $20 million grant, we are tripling
the commitment to the President's Urban Youth Empowerment
Program to help at-risk youth prepare for full-time employment.
A significant portion of this grant will help young people
in New Orleans and other areas that were affected by last
year's hurricanes." In 2004, the U.S. Department of
Labor's Employment and Training Administration awarded $9.2
million to the National Urban League to design and implement
a national model program for at-risk, out-of-school, and
adjudicated youth between the ages of 16-24. In partnership
with faith- and community-based organizations, Urban League
affiliate sites are providing youth career-focused employability
skills, paid internships, and on- the-job training to help
participants enter full-time, private sector employment.
The program currently operates in Aurora, Champaign and Peoria,
Ill.; Baltimore, Md.; Birmingham, Ala; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus,
Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla.; Los
Angeles, Calif.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Rochester, N.Y.; St. Louis,
Mo.; and Tucson, Ariz. Through this grant, services will
continue in current cities while the program expands to New
Orleans and other locales to be determined soon. "The
Urban League's Gulf Coast Employment Initiative complements
efforts underway through the Urban Youth Empowerment Program," said
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training
Emily Stover DeRocco. "The Gulf program targets its
services to older youth and young adults in Hurricane Katrina-
affected communities from Houston and Austin to Oklahoma
City and others." For more information on the Department
of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit
http://www.doleta.gov. http://www.usnewswire.com/© 2006
U.S. Newswire
NASA Awards Florida Remote Sensing Science Grants. WASHINGTON,
April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Science Mission Directorate,
Washington, selected three Florida institutions for grants
to support Earth- Sun System science goals and remote sensing
programs. Institutions and maximum grant amounts:
- Florida State University, Tallahassee:
$537,500
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Miami: $1,098,896
- University of Central Florida, Orlando:
$510,769
NASA solicited proposals for a new Ocean Vector Winds Science
Team to support the analysis and interpretation of ocean
vector winds and other applications derived from Earth-observing
satellite missions carrying scatterometers and polarimetric
radiometers. The research also supports the Vision for
Space Exploration, NASA's long- term plan to return astronauts
to the moon and extend exploration to Mars and beyond.
For
information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home. Florida program combines housing and mobile outreach
to serve homeless vets (from United States Interagency Council
on Homelessness (USICH) e-newsletter 4-10-06 http://www.usich.gov/). “Housing
fulfills the promise of hope that we make every time the
mobile van heads out,” noted Volunteers of America
Florida President and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Spearman. “It's
another key stop on the road to independence for homeless
veterans”. VOA Florida is now responding to the housing
goal of consumers by creating “Cabins in the Woods” – a
32- unit, efficiency-style transitional housing complex on
16 acres in a rural setting in Lake City, Florida. Conceptualized
by veterans, Cabin in the Woods was specifically designed
to serve those who don’t want to live in an urban setting.
The complex will serve disabled homeless veterans with mental
health, substance abuse, and primary healthcare issues. The
units will be handicapped accessible, pet friendly, and private.
They will be constructed by veterans in need of employment,
at an average cost of $44,000 each. As an engagement tool
for homeless veterans, Volunteers of America’s (VOA)
Mobile Service Center has established itself as a link to
meet the needs homeless veterans for care and services and
to build trusting relationships. VOA – Florida describes
the Mobile Service Center as a fully self-contained medical,
dental and service facility on wheels that offers treatment
to veterans for physical and mental trauma. The fact that
the mobile unit is a program "on wheels" allows
the team to go where the need is greatest. 200 days each
year, the mobile unit travels throughout Florida so staff
members from VOA and the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs can work with veterans who are often isolated and
living in rural areas and barrier islands, as well as in
urban areas. Over 4,000 homeless veterans have been engaged
by the mobile team in the last five years. The mobile unit
is equipped with two examination rooms and facilities for
dental care. Staff members offer homeless veterans immediate
assistance with food and clothing, health screening and assessment,
benefit determination, crisis intervention, and counseling.
Staff members also assess veterans’ need for housing,
education and job training, as well as mental health, substance
abuse, and employment. For more information on VOA of Florida
go to: http://www.voa-fla.org/.
State agencies join together to raise public awareness
of underage drinking. TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush and First
Lady Columba Bush last week joined the Governor’s State
Leadership Commission for Reducing Underage Drinking to announce
new initiatives to reduce youth alcohol use in Florida. The
initiatives are based on the recommendations in the 2004
Changing Alcohol Norms report published by the Florida Office
of Drug Control. “Unfortunately, alcohol and binge
drinking remain the two highest forms of substance abuse
by youth in Florida and across the nation,” said Governor
Bush. “Through increased public awareness and education,
we can reduce alcohol and substance abuse in Florida.” In
January, Governor Bush created the Governor’s State
Leadership Commission for Reducing Underage Drinking, comprised
of state agency heads, to increase education and awareness
on the dangers associated with underage drinking, increase
training and enforcement efforts among law enforcement officials
and conduct in-depth research and analysis on emerging issues
and trends associated with underage drinking. “We need
to set a positive example for our children,” said Mrs.
Bush. “Our actions and conversations with our children
guide and shape their lives. We have an opportunity and a
responsibility to help them make the right choices.” Among
the agencies Governor Bush charged with addressing this issue
are the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department
of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Alcoholic
Beverages and Tobacco, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Commission, Department of Education, Department
of Health, Department of Children and Families, Department
of Juvenile Justice and the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
These agencies will partner to raise public awareness on
the harms of alcohol abuse and take actions to reduce it.
For this complete release and more information on reducing
underage drinking or to read more about the Changing Alcohol
Norms campaign, visit to www.myflorida.com/drugcontrol.
Number of Florida foundations up, but growth rate
slowing, report says. Almost 1,000 new foundations were created in
Florida between 2000 and 2004, an increase of almost 40 percent,
a new study says. The Information Resource Center, based
in Ft. Lauderdale, and From the Source, based in Coral Gables,
Fla., released "Florida's 21st Century Foundations," a
report examining new foundations and new philanthropic capital
formed in Florida since 2000. The report says a total of
929 foundations were formed between 2000 and 2004, although
the number created annually has been dropping over the same
time period. Despite the decline in growth, authors of the
report remain optimistic, saying Florida foundations continue
to form at a healthy rate. Over the four-year period studied,
the number of new foundations created in Florida grew 38
percent, more than double the growth for the nation as a
whole, the study says.
Foundations in South Florida led the way, the report says,
representing four in 10 new foundations formed across the
state, and accounting for almost two-thirds of assets and
giving by new foundations. Palm Beach County had the highest
number of new foundations while Miami-Dade County had the
largest amount of assets held in new foundations. The report
also says that while new Florida foundations give more in
the categories of education and health, environment and animals,
and religion than do foundations nationally, they give less
to support human services, social sciences, science and technology,
international affairs, and the arts. About $33 million, or
one-third of grant dollars from new foundations, stayed in
Florida, the report says. Access the full report at: http://www.fromthesource.info/.
Suncoast’s 21st Century Workforce Study Update released. On March 23, 2006, Allyson O’Connor, Project Manager,
presented the 21st Century Workforce Study Update to the
Board. Dale Vollrath, President of TRC Staffing Services,
Chair of the Suncoast Education Alliance and past chair of
the SWB, commented on the importance of the Workforce Study
to the Suncoast. “The Workforce Study has been one
of the most important initiatives of the Suncoast Workforce
Board, and is a work in progress that will improve the Suncoast
for years to come” he said. The Update was shared with
Richard Judy and Jane Lommel, Workforce Associates, and authors
of the Study. “It’s terrific what you folks are
doing. We’re very proud to have been a part of it all.
But studies are a dime a dozen. It’s your follow-through
that is making all the difference!” Lommel said. The
Update can be viewed at: www.swdb.org/documents/WorkforceStudyUpdate3-23-06.pdf
Region 9 seeking service provider. The Alachua Bradford
Regional Workforce Board (ABRWB), d.b.a FloridaWorks, is
issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit agencies/organizations
with the capacity and expertise to manage FloridaWorks’ One-Stop
System and to provide One-Stop System Services to the workforce
of Alachua and Bradford Counties. Info can be found at http://www.alachuaonestop.org/web/abwb/rfps.htm .
The Nation
CQ Today Midday Update – Wednesday, April 12,
2006, 2:27p.m.
Today in Washington:
House: Not in session. Reconvenes at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April
25.
Senate: Not in session. Reconvenes at 2 p.m., Monday, April
24.
The President: Meets with the president of Ghana, John Kufuor,
and discusses the Medicare prescription drug benefit at Northern
Virginia Community College, Annandale, Va.
Headlines:
Republican Leaders Say Criminalization of Illegal Immigrants
Won’t Be in Final Bill
Reid Demands Explanation From Bush
House Homeland Security Leaders Want FEMA to Stay Put
Busby, Bilbray Appear Headed for June Runoff
Access the full stories at: www.cq.com.
USDOL - ETA Publishes PY 2006 State Allotments for
WIA, ES and WOTC Programs. To access links to the April 11 Federal
Register notice announcing the publication of workforce program
state allotments for PY 2006 go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?
results_art_filename=py06allotments.htm
GAO Report on Senior Community Service Employment
Program (SCSEP): Labor Has Made Progress Implementing Older
Americans
Act Amendments of 2000, but Challenges Remain. Why GAO Did
This Study: The aging of the baby boom generation and increased
life expectancy pose serious challenges for our nation. Older
adults often must re-enter the workforce in order to remain
self-sufficient. The Senior Community Service Employment Program
(SCSEP) is the only federal program that is specifically designed
to assist low-income older adults by providing part-time community
service jobs and training to prepare for employment. Since
passage of the 2000 Older Americans Act Amendments (OAA), SCSEP
has also increasingly focused on promoting economic self-sufficiency
through placement in unsubsidized employment. In 2005, Congress
appropriated about $439 million to serve about 100,000 older
workers. Administered by the Department of Labor (Labor), SCSEP
is implemented through 69 grantees, including 13 national organizations
and 56 state and territorial agencies. The Chairman of the
Senate Special Committee on Aging asked GAO to (1) determine
what effect the OAA Amendments have had on the distribution
of SCSEP funds to national and state grantees, (2) describe
the progress Labor has made in implementing the enhanced performance
accountability system, and (3) identify the challenges faced
by national and state grantees in managing the SCSEP program.
What GAO Found: The 2000 OAA Amendments have had little impact
on the distribution of funds between national and state grantees,
with national grantees continuing to receive approximately
78 percent of the funding and states about 22 percent. However,
the distribution of funding among national grantees has changed
substantially as a result of Labor's 2002 open competition
for the national grants portion of SCSEP funding. Labor has
taken steps to establish an enhanced performance accountability
system for SCSEP, but has yet to implement some features. For
example, Labor introduced the new performance measures required
by the OAA Amendments, but program year 2005, which ends on
June 30, 2006, is the first year that grantees will be held
accountable for meeting their goals. Labor has implemented
an early version of a data collection system to track grantee
performance, but the final Internet-based version is not yet
available. Changes to the SCSEP eligibility criteria and difficulties
coordinating with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) one-stop
system have posed challenges to SCSEP grantees. Labor modified
some eligibility criteria to target limited program funds to
individuals it believes are most in need of SCSEP services.
However, grantees expressed concern that these changes had
made it more difficult for them to meet their enrollment goals.
Finally, GAO found that despite provisions in the OAA Amendments
to strengthen connections between SCSEP and WIA, problems persist
in coordinating with WIA providers and obtaining intensive
and training services for older workers at one-stop centers.
View the Complete GAO Report at: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-549T.
View the GAO Highlights at: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06549thigh.pdf.
Labor, Education Secretaries Discuss Approaches to
Enhancing American Competitiveness. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Testifying last
week before the U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee,
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and U.S. Secretary of Education
Margaret Spellings highlighted Bush Administration plans to
enhance America's ability to compete in the global marketplace.
Both Cabinet officials focused their testimony on President
Bush's American Competitiveness Initiative, which he unveiled
during his State of the Union Address in January. The initiative
takes a broad approach to bolstering U.S. competitiveness,
from workforce training to math and science education to private-public
partnerships. "As our country embarks on its third century,
we are faced with the challenge of new realities that can only
be addressed by enhancing our ability to compete," said
Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
(R-CA). "These realities include an economy that requires
technology, innovation, and new ideas as engines of growth.
In many ways, we have left the age of the machine and have
definitively entered the age of the mind. The Education & the
Workforce Committee is at the forefront in deciding what steps
we must take next, and today's hearing helped lay the groundwork
for that." Labor Secretary Chao focused her testimony
on the need for American workers to be both skilled and flexible
in meeting the challenges created by a rapidly-changing 21st
Century economy. "When workers have the necessary skills,
they become flexible enough to move relatively freely from
job to job and place to place following the rhythms of the
marketplace, businesses have workers they need to do the job,
and workers have opportunities for career advancement," noted
Chao. "Many of the fastest growing jobs of the future
will need to be filled by 'knowledge workers' who have specialized
skills and training. These are the jobs that will drive innovation
in the world economy and increase living standards. Aligning
the workforce investment system with new economic realities
facing the United States is among the critical factors in the
success of the American Competitiveness Initiative." Last
year, the House backed Education & the Workforce Committee
legislation - the Job Training Improvement Act (H.R. 27) -
to respond to many of the challenges highlighted in Chao's
testimony. The bill would strengthen federal worker training
programs by streamlining bureaucracy; increasing cooperation
among workforce development partners; creating personal reemployment
accounts of up to $3,000 to help unemployed Americans purchase
job training and other key services; and enhancing partnerships
between local businesses, community colleges, and the local
one-stop delivery system. The Senate has yet to act on workforce
training legislation of its own. Education Secretary Spellings
discussed with the Committee the new academic and technological
challenges faced by U.S. students and workers as global competition
intensifies. "While the United States is leading the world
in science and technology and making strong reforms to its
education system, the rest of the world is not standing still," asserted
Spellings. "Inspired by our example, countries such as
China, India, and South Korea have invested heavily in education,
technology, and research and development. Our educational leadership
has been challenged as well, with many developed nations' students
outperforming ours in international tests, particularly in
math and science - an ominous sign for many American schools.
According to some estimates, America's share of the world's
science and engineering doctorates is predicted to fall to
15 percent by 2010." Last week, the House approved an
Education & the Workforce Committee bill - the College
Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609) - that responds to
many of the challenges Spellings outlined, particularly with
regard to math and science education. Within the framework
of current law, H.R. 609 establishes scholarships for students
pursuing degrees in science, math, or engineering; provides
student loan relief to individuals with degrees in science
or math who serve as teachers or other professionals in those
fields; and recruits well-qualified Americans to serve as adjunct
teachers in high school math, science, and critical foreign
language classes. The Senate has yet to act on higher education
reforms of its own. "This multi-pronged, fiscally-responsible
approach to strengthening American competitiveness is reflective
of our consistent commitment on this issue," concluded
McKeon. "Our Committee's and our country's ultimate success
in impacting American competitiveness will be determined by
what we do next, in the months and years to come. I'm hopeful
the Senate will act on both higher education and workforce
training reforms very soon so we can begin taking the necessary
steps toward improving our position against global competitors." For
links to the Witness List, Secretary Chao’s testimony
and Secretary Spelling’s testimony go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=houseedhearing.htm.
Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – April
7, 2006.
- HOUSE BUDGET STALLS DUE TO DISPUTE OVER
DOMESTIC SPENDING LIMITS
- IMMIRGRATION REFORM ON HOLD AFTER
SENATE NEGOTIATIONS FALTER
- HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE
HOLDS HEARING ON USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
- SECRETARY CHAO PROMOTES CAA'S AND WIA REFORM BEFORE HOUSE
EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
- IOWA ADMINISTRATOR
RESIGNS
- MARCH NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT RATE AT 4.7 PERCENT
For the full articles go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/
bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu040706.htm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
(none)
State Grants (none)
Federal Grants
(none)
Foundation Grants
(none)
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 CANCELLED
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 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 21, 2006
Florida’s First Financial Fitness Friday
Friday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be Florida’s First Financial
Fitness Friday. Members of the Florida Institute of CPAs will be available
to the public for guidance on conducting an annual financial “fitness” checkup
and to answer basic financial questions. CPA volunteers are providing this
service free of charge on Friday, April 21. To ask a question, call l (800)
342-3197, Extension 554 or log onto www.ficpa.org. Florida’s First Financial
Fitness Friday is an outreach event of “360 Degrees of Financial Literacy”,
a joint FICPA and American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) initiative to educate
the public about financial responsibility. “360 Degrees of Financial
Literacy” is a multi-faceted program that equips CPAs to take a broad
leadership role in educating the public — from school children to retirees — about
sound financial practices that apply to their particular life stages. Visit
the website at: www.360financialliteracy.org. To learn more about Florida’s
First Financial Fitness Friday go to: http://www1.ficpa.org//ficpa/SpecialProgramsEvents/FFFF.
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
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
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.
May 30 – June 1, 2006
2006 Disaster Recovery and Data Protection Summit
Tampa, FL
NEW! The 2006 Disaster Recovery and Data Protection Summit,
slated to take place in the Tampa, FL area from May 31 to
June 1, is a unique event focused on business continuity
requirements of organizations threatened directly or indirectly
by hurricanes and tropical storm systems. Severe weather
systems take their toll across a broad geography and often
companies that are not in the direct path of a storm are
impacted by its collateral effects: power outages, telecommunications
failures, infrastructure failures and even civil disturbances.
For more information and registration go to: http://summit.datainstitute.org/.
May 30 - June 1, 2006
Orientation to Supported Employment
Gainesville, FL
NEW! The Florida Department of Education's goals to increase
the quantity and improve the quality of education options
and align workforce education programs with skill requirements
of the new economy are among the top priorities for K-12
education. To support these goals, DOE is pleased to provide
information about a three-day collaborative Orientation to
Supported Employment training event being sponsored by the
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, the
Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation
Services, and The Transition Center at the University of
Florida. The three-day training event will be May 30-June
1, 2006, and will provide participants with an introduction
to the employment of individuals with significant disabilities.
See http://www.flse.net/flsupportedemp/nexttraining.html for details. The training event will be held at the Hilton
University of Florida Conference Center, located at 1714
SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32607. Dale DiLeo, a
nationally known expert in the field of supported employment,
and Sheila Gritz, a leading state trainer in transition for
The Transition Center, will lead the training. This event
has been highly rated by participants, and is most appropriate
for employment specialists/job coaches and school-to-work
transition personnel, but would also benefit supported employment
supervisors, family members, and others.The purposes of the
training are to:
•
identify unique obstacles individuals with significant disabilities
face in getting hired and succeeding in the workplace;
•
acquire information on the supported employment process;
•
identify the legislation, regulations, and funding that govern
the provision of supported employment; and
•
identify provisions for effective assessment and career planning,
marketing and job development, and on-the-job training and
support.
The Association for Persons in Supported Employment has approved
the core competencies addressed in this training. This training
also meets pre-service and continuing education training
requirements by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion at
the end of the three-day training. Participants are required
to attend all three days.
A total of 40 persons will be accepted for this training.
Please note that previous trainings on this topic have quickly
filled to capacity. Register online at https://www.secure-online.com/flse/SSL/responseform_orientse.html by April 14, 2006. Participants will receive written confirmation
of acceptance by fax or electronic mail no later than April
19, 2006.
If you have any questions, please contact Tiffany McKenzie
at customerservice@trninc.com. For updates about the training
or supported employment activities in Florida, go online
at http://www.flse.net
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
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
Comcourse announces free GED program for college-bound
students. Comcourse's GED program, located at http://www.gedforfree.com,
is available for free for students seeking to enter college.
The system provides a complete course of study in all of
the subject areas. It is self-paced and requires only an
Internet connection. It is open to anyone. "Individuals
who drop out of high school are less likely to find employment,
and have significant lower earning potential, than high school
graduates and individuals who have passed the GED exams.
Furthermore, colleges usually require a diploma or high school
equivalent. As part of our 'No Adult Left Behind' initiative,
Comcourse is offering an immediate opportunity for serious
and motivated adults to get back on the educational track," stated
David Grebow, Comcourse Chief Learning Officer. "With
the support of local and national GED non-profit educational
centers, Comcourse is able to provide the most extensive
on-demand free GED preparation program available today," said
James Chellis, Comcourse CEO. The online GED classes are
delivered in Comcourse's industry-leading virtual learning
environment, the Comcourse LMS. More information about the
Comcourse LMS is available at http://www.comcourse.com. Applicants
need only complete a brief, one-page application and are
immediately provided with a username and password, which
give access to the full site. Webmasters are encouraged to
link to http://www.gedforfree.com in order to help students
learn about the site. The site is funded entirely through
a reasonable and limited amount of advertising of online
high school and college opportunities.
From SOUTHERN COMPASS -- April 11, 2006:
- Survey reveals nanotechnology employment
compensation & outlook. The nano job market is heating up, with salaries and number
of jobs rising, according to a survey conducted by Small
Times magazine. The survey found that the average salary
globally in this industry is $84,605, with the U.S. average
being $97,978. The survey also found that almost 37 percent
of the employees have a degree at the level of Ph.D., M.D.,
or J.D. To view the report, visit: http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=11003.
- Report examines future success of U.S. small & medium
manufacturers. According to the National Association of
Manufacturers (NAM), the manufacturing industry produces
two-thirds of
America’s exports. The NAM report, The Future Success
of Small and Medium Manufactures, highlights the role companies
with less than 500 employees play in keeping America globally
competitive and the challenges these businesses face. In
addition to rising energy costs, the rising cost of health
care and skill shortages are significant challenges hindering
the competitiveness of small and medium manufacturers (SMM).
The report also highlights successful SMM’s 15 best
practices. To review the latest NAM report visit: http://www.nam.org/s_nam/bin.asp?CID=202515&DID=236457&DOC=FILE.PDF.
New web resources from the Re-Entry
Policy Council. Re-Entry
Policy Online has been rebuilt to better serve the re-entry
community. Visitors may view and download the entire Report
of the Re-Entry Policy Council, find news, links, and publications,
http://www.reentrypolicy.org/rp/main.aspx?dbID=DB_Resources_New101and
browse information by professional focus area. http://www.reentrypolicy.org/rp/Main.aspx.
Quote for the Week:
“Grief
can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a
joy
you must have somebody to divide it with.”
Mark Twain |
