CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Governor Bush approves 2006 hurricane preparedness
sales tax holiday. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush this week
signed legislation authorizing Florida’s second annual
12-day sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness. The
Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is an important
component of Governor Bush’s comprehensive plan to
instill a “culture of preparedness” in Florida.
Prepared citizens are better equipped to provide for the
safety of their families, reduce damage to their homes and
recover more quickly from a disaster.
“
In this period of increased tropical activity, it is vital
for all Floridians to prepare,” said Governor Bush. “Families
and businesses that prepare are safer and recover quicker
than those who don’t plan and don’t take action.” Coinciding
with National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the tax holiday
begins on Saturday, May 21 and ends on the first day of the
2006 Hurricane Season, June 1 – just 35 days away.
The 12-day holiday will save Floridians an estimated $41
million. Under the legislation, no state or local sales tax
will be collected on hurricane preparedness items, including:
•
Flashlights and portable, self-powered light sources – $20
or less
•
Portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios – for
$50 or less
•
Flexible waterproof sheeting (tarps) – $50 or less
•
Gas or diesel fuel containers – $25 or less
•
Batteries – $30 or less
•
Non-electrical food storage coolers – $30 or less
•
Portable generators – $1,000 or less
•
Carbon monoxide detectors – $75 or less
•
Storm shutter devices – $200 or less
•
Cell phone batteries – $60 or less
“
This legislation is an incentive for Floridians to stock
up on supplies, as well as a reminder to prepare for the
safety of their families,” said Senator Carey Baker. "We've
learned the hard way how important it is to prepare early
and thoroughly for hurricane season,” said Representative
Ron Greenstein. “This measure will grant Floridians
a tax break on much needed hurricane supplies and hopefully
increase the number of people prepared for this year's hurricane
season.” The Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
is a key component of the hurricane preparedness, response
and recovery budget recommendations made by Governor Jeb
Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings. The recommendations
include new efforts to significantly enhance Florida’s
ability to prepare for hurricanes, respond quickly in the
aftermath of a storm, recover from the damage and impacts
to the economy and mitigate future threats to public safety
and infrastructure. The $565 million package includes funding
to harden county emergency operations centers, make existing
homes more disaster resistant, install permanent generators
in all special needs shelters, create safe public shelter
for an additional 100,000 people, repair and rehabilitate
homes in communities severely impacted by the 2004 and 2005
storms and raise public awareness on the critical need to
prepare for hurricanes. “All indications are that we
will have another active hurricane season,” said Florida
Division of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate. “A
successful response starts well before a storm makes landfall – with
families, communities and counties planning and preparing
for a potential emergency.” The 2006 Atlantic Hurricane
Season begins on June 1. For more information on the 2006
season, disaster preparedness and the sales tax holiday,
please visit: www.myflorida.com or www.FloridaDisaster.org.
For additional information on Florida's Sales Tax Exemption
on Hurricane Supplies and the "Twelve Days of Hurricane
Preparedness" initiative sponsored by Florida's American
Red Cross chapters please visit the following web site: http://www.FloridaPreparesNow.org.
May 1 kicks off National Military Appreciation Month. Show
your support by flying the flag or participating in special
events, including a 15-day cross-country motorcycle ride.
(Visit nmam.org for a list of May's events.) But the best
gesture Americans can make is to hire a veteran of the fighting
in Iraq or Afghanistan. While U.S. unemployment is about
4.7%, those vets have a 15.6% jobless rate. Why? Some employers
have illegally fired returning National Guard and Reserve
troops, while others are afraid to hire combat vets who may
suffer from post-traumatic stress. At hirevetsfirst.gov vets
can find job advice, and employers can post help-wanted ads.
At www.EmployFlorida.com employers can flag their job listings
with “veterans preference” and can locate job
candidates who have identified themselves as veterans by
indicating a preference for a veteran in their search criteria.
From Earned Income Tax Credit to Prosperity Initiative
- Update. In January, as part of a state-wide multi-partner
EITC and broader “Prosperity Initiative”, WFI
and AWI launched the EITC/Prosperity Partners online resource
located at: http://www.floridajobs.org/eitc/index.html. This
web resource has been updated with new materials, press releases,
information on EITC and Prosperity Campaigns around the state.
This year’s theme “From Earned Income Tax Credit
to Prosperity Initiative” has driven the messaging
as 2006 unfolds. As we noted there are four elements in the
Prosperity Initiative – filing for tax credits (both
EITC and CTC), financial literacy and asset building. The
first phase of the Initiative Tax Year 2005 is completed
as the official date for filing for tax credits has passed
and many Floridians have already received their tax refunds.
The two additional elements - financial literacy and asset
building – are also critical to our ensuring that all
Floridians have access to tools to achieve financial self-sufficiency
and security. This week we are focusing on financial literacy.
See the article in the Workforce Florida Weekly Update 4-26-06
titled Volunteers recognized for promoting financial education
and for service to community at: www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/news/updates/updates_060426.htm.
The article refers to the importance of increasing economic
wealth for low and moderate income citizens through financial
literacy. Specifically the article describes that the Polk
County Financial Education Council uses a tool named Money
Smart – An Adult Education Program that is available
free of charge from the FDIC. To access details on this program
visit: www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html.To
learn more about the importance of financial literacy for
youth in January we added information about the Florida Jump$tart
Coalition to the website – See website and link to
Prosperity Campaigns by County – Statewide Organizations-
page 6. We have posted on the website the nationwide Jump$tart
Coalition for Personal Literacy biennial survey of financial
literacy for students. Visit: www.jumpstart.org/news.cfm.
Also posted is the extracted information for Florida’s
students at www.fljumpstart.org/pressrelease.cfm. For more
information about the Prosperity Initiative and the website
or to submit for inclusion your organization’s name,
information and/or materials contact: JenniLee Robins at
jrobins@workforceflorida.com.
Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance presents 2006 scholarship
winners: 14 Hillsborough County high school students to
be honored
for their academic achievement at May 4th reception. TAMPA,
Fla. – May 1, 2006 - Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance (TBWA),
the region’s leading organization for workforce development
and the largest source of employment candidates in the area,
has awarded fourteen scholarships to local students through
its Scholarship Awards Program. The scholars will be honored
at “The Stars of Tomorrow” ceremony on Thursday,
May 4, 2006, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Theatre. TBWA
created the program to cultivate local talent. It offers
eligible high school seniors and GED graduates an opportunity
to apply for pre-paid tuition scholarships to approved Florida
or out-of-state universities, community colleges, vocational-technical
schools or any school approved by the Florida Prepaid College
Foundation. Over the past three years, TBWA has awarded more
than $300,000 in scholarships to 67 deserving Tampa Bay graduates. “The
education and training of our region’s youth is vital
to the economic growth of Tampa Bay,” states Renée
Benton, TBWA president and CEO. “Through our scholarships,
TBWA not only provides financial support to some of our brightest
stars, but also demonstrates our commitment to investing
in tomorrow’s workforce.” Representatives from
business and education will participate as presenters, including
Arthur Porter, publisher of the Tampa Bay Business Journal;
Kim Scheeler, president of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce;
and MaryEllen Elia, superintendent of Hillsborough County
Schools. “We are grateful to TBWA for recognizing the
potential in so many of our students,” states Elia. “By
providing higher education scholarships, TBWA demonstrates
the value of helping these students reach their goals.” The
following are the 2006 Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance Scholarship
Program recipients: Alicia Cardinez, Wharton High School;
Kim Dau, Robinson High School; Ayesha Farooq, King High School;
Clarens Jarbath, Brandon High School; Saraia Lamb, South
County Career Center; Martey McIntyre, Plant City High School;
Juliana McVay, Chamberlain High School; Ashley Plum, Gaither
High School; Amanda Reyes, Hillsborough High School; Apolonia
Reza, East Bay High School; Wendy Salgado, Jefferson High
School; Brittany Sapp, Durant Senior High School; John Sepulveda,
Jr., Leto High School; and Curtis Suchan, Jr., Bloomingdale
High School.
TBWA scholars receive more than tuition funds through this
program. “Our goal is to create links to the business
community and exposure to real work experiences through seminars,
information and internship opportunities that prepare them
to met local demands,” Benton said.
Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance works with businesses and candidates
to leverage their training, retraining and competitive opportunities
in the workforce. Nearly 100,000 job candidates annually
access its four career centers, making TBWA the single largest
source of job candidates in the region. More than 3,000 businesses
annually access TBWA's wide range of services, including
employee recruiting; customized training; targeted career
fairs; workshops and business seminars; and retention support
strategies. Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance is a member of the
Employ Florida statewide network of workforce services and
resources. For more information, visit www.workforcetampa.com.
In keeping with its mission to develop workforce talent to
foster economic development, Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance
invests in college scholarships. To be eligible, high school
seniors and GED graduates must be accepted to an approved
Florida Prepaid college or institution of higher learning
at the time of award, submit a 500-word essay on a specified
topic and letters of recommendation, have a minimum GPA of
2.0 and meet income criteria.
The Nation
Johanns announces sign-up begins May 17 for 2005 hurricane
assistance programs. WASHINGTON, May 1, 2006 - Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns this week announced that sign-up begins
May 17, 2006, for four crop and livestock assistance programs
providing aid to producers affected by the destructive 2005
hurricanes. These programs are funded by $250 million in Section
32 funds authorized immediately following these destructive
storms. "We will do everything we can at USDA to continue
to help people who have suffered through hurricanes and lost
their crops, or who need help with cleanup or rebuilding their
communities," said Johanns. "I strongly support targeted
assistance to help people who are in need. USDA has been very
aggressive in finding the resources to provide nearly five
billion dollars in Hurricane assistance." The four programs
- Livestock Indemnity Program, Feed Indemnity Program, Hurricane
Indemnity Program and Tree Indemnity Program - are funded through
Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935. Johanns authorized
the use of $250 million from Section 32 funds in October 2005
for crop disaster, livestock, tree and aquaculture assistance.
To be eligible for this assistance, a producer's loss must
have occurred in one of 261 counties that received a primary
presidential or secretarial disaster designation due to 2005
Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita or Wilma. Assistance
is unavailable with respect to losses in contiguous counties.
A list of the eligible counties in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas is available at: http://www.usda.gov/HurricaneInfo.xml.
For the full press release go to: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?
contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/05/0150.xml.
NASWA Veterans Affairs Committee Chair testifies before
House Panel. NASWA offered recommendations in its testimony on a
House legislative proposal to establish professional qualifications
for DVOPs and LVERs. View the full testimony at:
http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2006/naswavetstest.pdf.
Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – April
28, 2006.
- SENATE APPROVES CAP ON SALARIES FOR WORKFORCE
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
- SENATOR CORNYN INTRODUCES AMENDMENT
TO PRIORITZE NEG AWARDS
- NASWA COMMITTEE CHAIR TESTIFIES
BEFORE HOUSE PANEL ON PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH DVOP/LVER QUALIFICATIONS
- EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION FOR NASWA's 2006 UI TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTION CONFERENCE EXPIRES MAY 5
For the full articles go to:
http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu042806.htm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
Gov. Jeb Bush and Enterprise Florida are seeking
nominations for the Governor's Business Diversification
Awards. The Governor’s
Business Diversification Awards?
A statewide program that recognizes Florida companies in
emerging and high-technology industries for their contributions
to Florida’s economic growth annually during Industry
Appreciation Week. Each year, the Governor will present the
following awards:
- Governor’s Business Expansion
Award to a company that expanded its operations in 2005,
investing capital and
creating jobs for Floridians
- Governor’s Newcomer
Award to a new-to-Florida company that began operating
here in 2005
- Governor’s Export Excellence Award
to a company that saw a significant increase in documented
export
sales in
2005
- Governor’s Entrepreneurship Award to a start-up
company (less than 5 years) that sets the standard for
entrepreneurship
and creativity
- Governor’s Innovation Award to a
company, organization or institution* that, through product
or process, best
exemplifies innovative leadership
Companies will compete with other companies
in similarly sized markets. All five honors will be awarded
in each of
the following categories:
- Mid Market – county population
up to 75,000
- Major Market – county population
75,001 to 750,000
- Mega Market – county population
750,001 and higher
Who is eligible? Florida companies and organizations in industries
that help diversify the state’s economy. Companies
in the following targeted sectors are encouraged to apply,
but companies and organizations in all sectors are invited
for nomination. Targeted sectors include:
- Aviation/Aerospace • Homeland
Security/Defense
- Information Technology • Life
Sciences
- Manufacturing • Corporate Headquarters
- Trade/Export
Services • Financial/Professional
Services
- Distribution/Logistics • Education/Training
Companies will be evaluated based on their contributions
to Florida’s job growth and corporate citizenship and
a specific set of criteria unique to the individual award
(see nomination forms for specific criteria). What do winning
companies receive? An exclusive luncheon with Governor Jeb
Bush, other statewide winners and local economic development
organizations at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee
during Industry Appreciation Week September 18–22,
2006; Recognition in a full-page collage ad in Florida Trend
magazine and on high-traffic websites such as www.eFlorida.com
and www.MyFlorida.com;
Promotion through a press release to their local newspaper;
Company profile in a special edition
of Enterprise Florida’s statewide e-newsletter, “Developments” (3,000+
business/community leaders). Companies may be nominated through
their local or regional economic development organizations
or may nominate themselves. To contact your local economic
development organization, log on to www.eflorida.com/
partnerdirectory.
Additional information and nomination forms are available
at www.eflorida.com/govawards or
by calling Cheryl Haney at 407.316.4617 or chaney@eflorida.com.
Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. EST Friday, June 23,
2006. State Grants (none)
Federal Grants
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG)
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Capital Program (Repeat)
New Grantee Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (Repeat)
Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) Grants (Repeat)
Non-Urban Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP)(Repeat)
Urban Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) Grants
(Repeat)
Adolescent Family Life Care Demonstration Project (Repeat)
Foundation Grants
Community Grants Program
Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards
Center for Global Partnership Education Projects
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.
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 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
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
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
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
Inc.’s Best Cities for Doing Business – Florida
looking good. As part of it’s annual report, Inc. studied
393 population centers across the nation, identifying job
creation and other signs of business vitality. What did we
find? The big cities are idling, and the real entrepreneurial
hot spots are on the periphery -- where low costs and favorable
regulatory environments make it possible to thrive. Which
metropolitan areas are really booming? Here, you'll find
a searchable database, the full 2006 rankings broken down
by small, medium, and large cities, an interactive map, stories
explaining why -- and where -- companies are flourishing
today, and much more. Nineteen of its cities are rated among
the best for entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses.
Inc. magazine's 2006 ranking of U.S. business cities included
19 Florida cities in the top 100, with Orlando at No. 28.
Access the full report at:
http://www.inc.com/bestcities.
Florida Department of Community Affairs releases
publication: Front Porch in Review, Keeping the Promise (from Florida
Monitor Weekly-April 28, 2006). This publication chronicles
the economic development and revitalization efforts of the
Front Porch Initiative that have occurred since its inception
in 1999. It documents the major accomplishments of each of
the twenty designated communities throughout the state. It
also highlights improvements made in areas such as education
and literacy, affordable housing, health services, crime
prevention, and economic development and demonstrates what
happens when all levels of government coordinate with the
private sector and pool resources for the greater good of
distressed communities throughout the state. Access the full
report at: http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/fpf/Documents/FPFinReview.pdf
Quote for the Week:
“The
great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”
Herbert Spencer |
