CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Governor Bush's "Hire a Vet First" PSA now available
online. Please forward the link to your vet staff, marketing
units, veterans' advocates, etc. This is an ideal tool to
market the advantages of hiring veterans to Florida's employers.
AWI anticipates having CD copies for all of the vet staff
at the upcoming Veterans' Workforce Training Workshop. The
PSA may be found at: http://www.floridajobs.org/PDG/veterans.html under Veterans’ links. For more information contact:
Mitch Collier, State Veterans' Program Coordinator, Agency
for Workforce Innovation via email at: mitch.collier@awi.state.fl.us or phone at: (850) 245-7451.
Governor Bush awards rural development grant to
the Dixie-Gilchrist-Levy Tourism Development Board. TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush
yesterday awarded a $35,000 Regional Rural Development Grant
to the Dixie-Gilchrist-Levy Tourism Development Board for
its regional tourism program, “Florida’s Pure
Water Wilderness.” Created in 2000, the board was established
as a result of a pilot project overseen by the Governor’s
Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and continues
to be a successful tool for promoting rural and nature-based
tourism. “Since its creation, the Dixie-Gilchrist-Levy
Tourism Development Board has achieved remarkable success
in promoting tourism and recreation. I am pleased to support
their progress through our regional rural development grants,” said
Governor Bush. “Tourism is an important component of
the region’s economy and contributes to Florida’s
robust economic growth.” The “Florida’s
Pure Water Wilderness” project is comprised of a 2,000
square mile, three-county cluster of pristine lakes, ponds,
creeks, springs, rivers and ocean. The tri-county board has
successfully leveraged support from state partners, including
VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, to enhance its tourism campaign. The partnership
is considered a model for rural tourism development organizations
throughout the state. “We are very grateful to Governor
Bush for his continued efforts in the Rural Areas of Critical
Economic Concern,” said Administrative Director, Dixie-Gilchrist-Levy
Tourism Development Board Donna Creamer. “We are committed
to energetically promoting Florida’s Pure Water Wilderness
and enhancing tourism’s positive impact on our region.”
Since 1999, Governor Bush has worked to enhance the economies
and overall competitiveness of rural Florida. Among his many
rural-based initiatives, Governor Bush established the “Rural
Areas of Critical Economic Concern” program, providing
designated rural areas with greater access to the state’s
economic incentive programs. In April 2003, Governor Bush
designated a fourteen county region in north central Florida
that includes the tri-county region of Dixie, Gilchrist and
Levy as the state’s third “Rural Area of Critical
Economic Concern.”
For more information on Governor Bush’s economic development
initiatives, please visit www.myflorida.com.
PolkWorks employee to be honored for local volunteer
service: Through hard work, Stephanie Campbell knows where
she's going (by Billie Ellis, The Ledger, Published Thursday, May 11,
2006). Stephanie Campbell, who will receive the George W.
Jenkins Award at the Celebration Luncheon next week, is a
hard worker. And even with a full-time job, she isn't allowing
anything to interfere with her continuing education. She
also finds time for her family and community projects, proving
it can all be done if one is willing to do the work. A 1979
graduate of Winter Haven High School, Stephanie received
an A.S. degree in English and humanities from Polk Community
College and holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology
and a minor in African American Studies from Florida Southern
College. She is maintaining a 3.66 GPA at Nova Southeastern
University and will complete her studies for a master of
science degree in administration and management of educational
program in August. Stephanie is employed with the Polk Workforce
Development Board Inc. as the youth programs officer, a career
she has been working for the past two decades. Her awards
or other special honors received were Leadership Winter Haven
Class 23; National Youth Symposium Recognition as a presenter,
last year; Student of the Year for Nontraditional College
Students by CAVE Club founder Jan McDougal; a scholarship
to attend Stanford University to participate in the Charter
Institute for Program Development and Evaluation with Sociometrics;
and outstanding volunteer service in Polk County schools
as a mentor. She also was honored as an ambassador for United
Way of Central Florida. Special interests and hobbies of
this award winner are gourmet cooking, traveling, reading,
jazz concerts, theater, and of course, shopping. The main
focus of Stephanie's volunteer service has been on Jewett
High School Alumni Association Inc.; the Chamber of Commerce
Leadership and Foundation; Chain Of Lake Achievers Inc.;
The Stars of Tomorrow-Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance; cochair
for Focus on Leadership in Winter Haven; Boggy Bottom Community
Reunion co-chair; Polk County Schools; Goodrum/ Darby Scholarship
Foundation; Florence Villa CDC Annual Fundraising Event;
and Youth in Action. The major influences in her life have
been her four children, Teon and Larry Roberts, Jessica and
Francesca Campbell. "They were my cheering team even
when I didn't feel like cheering," the award winner
said on a recent day. "They were always very supportive
of the way I handled life, and sometimes when advice was
not enough, there were obstacles to cross, challenges to
face, we impacted each other by sticking together. "The
word `can't' was not allowed, but the phrase `let me try'
was always welcomed," she said. "My parents, Willis
and Eva Campbell, always gave me their steadfast support,
and I was blessed to be surrounded by solid leadership role
models in community exemplar advisers and mentors Louise
Horne, Nancy Thompson, Seretha Tinsley, Annette Howard and
Donzell Floyed, to name a few." Stephanie's favorite
quote is by Benjamin F. Mays of Morehouse College in 1963
when he said: "Whatever you do, wherever you go, I hope
you perform so well in your chosen work and stand so high
in depth of character that the living, the dead nor the unborn
child could have done it better." Her advice to the
young members at Girls Inc. would be: "Always be willing
to continue to improve yourself as an individual throughout
your lifetime. Remember that one step won't take you very
far. You have to keep walking, keep talking, keep going and
keep growing. Always be responsible for yourself and set
goals that are attainable. Always shoot for the stars, and
if you happen to miss, you will be among them. Keep a Plan
B just in case Plan A does not work to your advantage. Continue
to support each other and know that opportunity is at your
front door." http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060511/
COLUMNISTS0101/605110378&SearchID=73244656874818
The Nation
America’s Job Bank Gets Laid Off (from Workforce Week
May 14 – 20). The pioneering government-run national
job board will shut down next year. AJB has been criticized
by the Department of Labor as not competitive with private-sector
Web sites. The U.S. Labor Department plans to close America’s
Job Bank—the national online job board—in a little
more than a year, a move that could hurt employers and job
seekers. The Labor Department sent notices to state officials
earlier this year saying "the benefits of AJB (America’s
Job Bank) no longer outweigh the costs of operating and maintaining
this system. Therefore, AJB will be phased out during the next
18 months and cease to be operational on June 30, 2007." But
shutting down America’s Job Bank will be a major blow
to employers and job seekers, says Gerry Crispin, co-founder
of job-site consulting firm CareerXroads. Crispin says the
site has been a way to aggregate all the job postings of some
2,000 state employment offices around the country, giving smaller,
local employers the ability to broadcast their jobs nationwide
for free. And the AJB site is often used by lower-skilled people
who turn to state employment offices. Those people may have
to rely on a fragmented network of state job sites or private-sector
job boards that will not have all the job listings that employers
currently give to America’s Job Bank, Crispin says. "We
are basically losing a public resource that provides job seekers
a more convenient and easy way to identify the employers who
were local and had smaller budgets," he says. America’s
Job Bank dates to 1995, and the free site currently lists more
than 2.1 million jobs and more than 682,000 résumés.
But it has been criticized as difficult to use. The Labor Department
said in a notice that the cost of operating AJB has been as
high as $27 million per year, but that "AJB has not been
able to keep up with private-sector job boards or industry
standards regarding up-to-date technology." The slated
closure of America’s Job Bank could force both companies
and states to change the way they do business. For the whole
story go to: http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/24/36/65.html.
House Veterans Subcommittee approves bill that would
modify DVOP and LVER programs. The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
on Economic Opportunity has unanimously approved H.R. 3082,
the Veterans Small Business and Employment Promotion Act of
2006. In her opening statement, Representative Stephanie Herseth
(D-SD), the Subcommittee's Ranking Member, thanked the staff
of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Veterans' Employment
and Training Service (VETS), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
and NASWA on their assistance providing technical expertise
and developing the legislation. NASWA worked with Subcommittee
and VETS staff over the past two months to amend the Subcommittee's
legislative discussion draft. The legislation as approved by
the Subcommittee would amend the Disabled Veteran Outreach
(DVOP) and the Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER)
programs. On April 27, 2006, Chair of the NASWA Veterans Affairs
Committee Don Ingram testified before the Subcommittee in response
to the legislative discussion draft. After the hearing, the
legislative discussion draft was inserted into an existing
legislative vehicle, H.R. 3082. The Veterans Employment and
Training section became Title II of the bill. Title II of H.R.
3082 would make the following changes to the DVOP and LVER
programs: Require VETS to establish guidelines for professional
qualifications for DVOPs and LVERs; Clarify that part-time
employment of DVOPs/LVERs is half-time employment;
Require States to develop a licensing and certification program
within two years after date of enactment for veterans as a
condition to receive a grant; Require all DVOPs/LVERs hired
by a State be trained by the National Veterans Training Institute
within three years of appointment;
Modify requirements for VETS annual report to include additional
and more specific data concerning veterans' employment; Authorize
a five-year demonstration project to allow the Assistant Secretary
of Labor for VETS to enter into contracts with non-governmental
entities to carry out placement services in high-employment
areas using unobligated funds and required GAO study such demonstration
projects; Modify the incentive award program to recognize high
performing employment service offices in addition to high performing
employees; and
Require USDOL to prescribe regulations with regards to priority
of service established under the Jobs for Veterans Act, P.L.
107-288, no later than one year after the date of enactment.
H.R. 3082 has been referred to the House Veterans Affairs Committee
for consideration where it is not known how soon it will be
considered. For a copy of the legislation as considered by
the Subcommittee during its mark-up go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2006/HR3082Markup1.pdf.
Secretary Announces VA's 18 Millionth Home Loan Guaranty. WASHINGTON (May 11, 2006) - One of the most widely used veterans
benefits in America reaches a major milestone May 13 when Secretary
of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson will announce that an
Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from Texas is the recipient
of the 18 millionth home loan guaranteed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA). "VA's home loan guaranty program
has been helping veterans purchase homes for more than 60 years," Secretary
Nicholson said. "This VA no-down payment loan program
reflects our nation's appreciation of the brave men and women
who put on our country's uniforms in defense of freedom and
our way of life. It also highlights VA's contribution to turning
the United States into a nation of homeowners." The 18
millionth loan will be marked May 13 at the National Association
of Home Builders' (NAHB) Annual Spring conference in Washington,
D.C. An award will be presented to veteran Robert A. Laurent
of Kyle, Texas. Laurent, an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient,
was discharged after four years in uniform because of combat-related
injuries in Iraq. His family's new home was built by Legacy
Homes of Plano, Texas, a division of Meritage Homes Corp. of
Scottsdale, Arizona, and purchased through First Continental
Mortgage, Ltd. of Houston. "The no downpayment VA program
has been a cornerstone of the nation's housing finance system
for more than 60 years," said NAHB President David Pressly,
a home builder from Statesville, N.C. "It has opened the
door to homeownership for millions of veterans who have, in
turn, been able to build equity and household wealth, put down
roots in the communities where they live and enjoy the many
benefits of owning a home." Since 1944 when President
Franklin Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act
into law, the GI Bill, as it is popularly known, has secured
more than $892 billion of financing for veterans' and service
members' home loans. In fiscal year 2005 alone, VA guaranteed
more than 165,000 loans for mortgages valued at more than $24.9
billion. VA-guaranteed home loans are made by banks and mortgage
companies to veterans, service members and eligible reservists.
With VA backing a portion of the loan, veterans can receive
a competitive interest rate without a down payment, making
it easier to buy a home. On Jan. 1, 2006, the VA loan guaranty
limit for no-down payment loans was increased to $417,000.
The previous ceiling was $359,650. More information about VA
home loan benefits is available on the Web at http://www.homeloans.va.gov or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
$70 Million in Grants Brings Blighted Property Back
to Life. (Washington, D.C. - May 12, 2006) Communities in 44 states
and two territories, as well as three tribes will share $69.9
million in grants to help transform community eyesores into
community gems. The grants, from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, promote the redevelopment of abandoned and contaminated
or potentially contaminated waste sites. In all, 209 applicants
were selected to receive 292 grants for assessment or cleanup
of properties. "Building on decades of environmental growth
and economic gains, President Bush and EPA continue to put
both people and property back to work," said EPA Administrator
Stephen L. Johnson. "By turning problem properties back
into community assets, EPA is handing down better health and
a brighter future to the next generation of Americans." The
brownfields program encourages turning America's estimated
450,000 problem properties to productive community use. Since
the beginning of the brownfields program, EPA has awarded 883
assessment grants totaling $225.4 million, 202 revolving loan
fund grants totaling $186.7 million, and 238 cleanup grants
totaling $42.7 million. In addition to industrial and commercial
redevelopment, brownfields approaches have included the conversion
of industrial waterfronts to river-front parks, landfills to
golf courses, rail corridors to recreational trails, and gas
stations to housing. EPA's brownfields assistance has leveraged
more than $8.2 billion in private investment, helped create
37,525 jobs and resulted in the assessment of 8,374 properties
and the cleanup of 93 properties. The $69.9 million in grants
include:
•
184 grants totaling $36.6 million for conducting site assessment
and planning for eventual cleanup at one or more brownfields
sites or as part of a community-wide effort.
•
96 grants totaling $18.3 million for cleanup activities at
brownfields sites.
•
12 grants totaling $15 million to capitalize a revolving loan
fund and provide subgrants for cleanup activities at brownfields
sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low
interest loans for brownfields cleanups.
Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse
may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of
a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In January
2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief
and Brownfields Revitalization Act, which authorizes up to
$250 million in funds annually for brownfields grants. The
2002 law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield,
so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands or sites
contaminated by petroleum or the manufacture and distribution
of illegal drugs. Before/after photos of sample brownfields
projects are available upon request. More information on the
grant recipients: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/archive/pilot_arch.htm.
More information on the Brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.
Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – May
12, 2006.
- IMPASSE OVER BUDGET IN HOUSE HINGES ON
LABOR, HHS AND EDUCATION SPENDING LIMITS
- STATES' LETTERS
TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS OVER NEXT TWO WEEKS WOULD
BE WELL-TIMED
- HOUSE VETERANS SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES BILL
THAT WOULD MODIFY DVOP AND LVER PROGRAMS
- USDOL SENDS DRAFT
UI INTEGRITY BILL TO HOUSE
- BILL TO EXTEND WOTC AND WtWTC
PROGRAM EXPECTED SOON
- ETA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FY
2006 FUNDS TO IMPROVE UI AUTOMATION FOR IT SECURITY
- CIVIL
RIGHTS CENTER ADDS ON-LINE TRAINING COURSE
- EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
FOR NASWA's 2006 UI TECHNOLOGY CONNECTION CONFERENCE EXPIRES
ON MAY 15
For the full articles go to:
http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu051206.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.
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:
Date: May 17, 2006
Workforce3 One Webinar: Charting a High Growth Strategic Future
Time: 12:00pm Eastern (11am/Central, 10am/Mountain, 9am/Pacific)
Length: 75 minutes
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment
and Training Administration is proud to present a webinar series
on the role of community colleges in workforce and economic
development.
Workforce3 One is pleased to offer this first webinar, a case
study and model for defining strategic initiatives around high
growth industries and creating strategic partnerships.
Presenters: Dr. Ken Ender, President, Cumberland County College;
Richard D. Maher, President, Maher & Maher, Specialized
Workforce Development Consulting Firm.
Description: In today's knowledge-based economy, companies
are finding it increasingly difficult to find a highly skilled
workforce and educational resources to help workers learn skills
for 21st Century jobs. Community colleges play a major role
in workforce and economic development, often actively involved
in meeting rapidly changing workforce development needs by
offering business and industry-driven education and training.
This webinar will begin by describing the dynamics of today's
workplace and high growth employment sectors in the nation.
The webinar will feature Dr. Ken Ender, the President of Cumberland
County College, who will explain how he collaborated with community
partners to define strategic initiatives around high growth
industries to stimulate job growth in one of New Jersey's poorest
counties. Learn the critical steps of the planning process;
the three essential components of the plan's framework; and
the eight goals of the community symposium that can be modified
to serve the needs of workers and key employers in your region.
In addition to being President of Cumberland County College,
Dr. Ender is past Chairman of the Cumberland County Economic
Development Board, and a current member of his local Inter-municipality
Empowerment Zone and Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee.
Registration for this Webinar is limited and seating is on
a first-come, first-served basis. Please click the link below
to login to Workforce3 One to register.
http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=98
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
June 5-6, 2006
Gulf States Disaster Recovery Symposium
The Perfectly Terrible Storms... Challenges Ahead
Pensacola, Florida
University of West Florida Conference Center
NEW! Disasters Don’t Recognize Borders - this first Gulf
States Disaster Recovery Symposium will address the human side
of disaster recovery planning; those issues that affect coordination
of social services, affordable housing, workforce issues, partnerships,
crisis counseling, recovery plans, homelessness and much more.
This Symposium provides the opportunity to bring together state
and local governments, private and non for profit sectors,
and volunteers to discuss the challenges of addressing the
aftermath of terrible storms and reducing the dramatic changes
it brings to our communities. Who should attend: Leaders/Planners
from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas engaged
in disaster planning and affordable housing issues Federal
Agencies State and Local Government Agencies Housing Advocates
Faith-based/Community Based Organizations Volunteer Organizations.
Please visit www.findflorida.org for more information and to
register online. Because of capacity limits, advance registration
is strongly encouraged and registration "at the door" may
not be possible.
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
New version of the College Opportunities Online
Locator (COOL) website. NCES announces the release of a new version
of the College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL) website,
a consumer information tool for students, parents, high school
counselors, and others interested in postsecondary education
in the United States. The site allows users to see and compare
profiles of nearly 7,000 colleges and universities throughout
the nation. Users can search by location, program or major,
and a variety of institutional characteristics to identify
postsecondary institutions that fit their preferences. In
addition, up to four institutions can be compared side-by-side
on areas including: estimated student expenses; financial
aid availability; admissions information; enrollment details;
retention and graduation rates; and, awards and degrees.
Links to institution websites as well as to additional information
about campus security, federal student loan default rates,
and accreditation are also provided. To visit the COOL website,
go to http://collegesearch.nces.ed.gov.
The art and science of recruiting a diverse workforce (by
Gina Ruiz, from Workforce Recruiting, May 11, 2006). Minorities
are an increasingly large and important part of the workforce
as the nation’s population becomes more ethnically
and racially diverse. Building a diverse workforce is a strategy
that makes good business sense. No matter what the reasons
are for why employers are trying to bolster diversity in
the workplace, one thing is certain: Recruiting minorities
is a crucial challenge. With the prospect of aging baby boomers
retiring and the desire to reflect the increasingly diverse
U.S. population, employers will have to rely on minorities
more than ever. Collectively, African Americans, Hispanics
and other minority groups make up 30 percent of the overall
population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Perhaps
this is why diversity is a serious matter at large companies,
such as American Express. The company, which has 66,000 employees
worldwide, systematically targets minorities at colleges
with diverse student populations, reaches out to ethnic organizations
and sponsors mentoring programs for minorities, says Henry
Hernandez, chief diversity officer for the financial services
provider in New York. Kenneth Chenault, chairman and CEO
of American Express, in 2001 became the first African American
to head a Fortune 500 company. But diversity for diversity’s
sake is not the only reason why companies strive to develop
a mixed workforce, says Steve Pemberton, chief diversity
officer and vice president for Monster Worldwide, a New York-based
online recruitment specialist. Employers are also attracted
to the fattening wallets of minority consumer groups. Hispanics
alone have a purchasing power of almost $700 billion, according
to HispanTelligence, a market research specialist. Some companies
believe that having a diverse workforce facilitates their
understanding of minority groups and provides a leg up on
the competition when vying for market share, says Martha
Ceja, manager of diversity services at Bernard Hodes Group,
a talent consulting company based in New York. But developing
a diverse workforce is easier said than done. Minorities
are grossly under-represented in strategic and influential
positions in American corporations, according to statistics
from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In
addition, other issues, like recruiting and retention, also
pose big hurdles in diversity management. There is no silver
bullet for these issues. But the consensus among workforce
experts is that if employers really want to tip the scale
in their favor, they are going to have to adopt diversity
management as part of their mainstream strategy. "Companies
cannot view diversity as just another program or initiative--it
has to be a way of life," Ceja says. Going grass-roots:
Working the job fair circuit is not always a fruitful endeavor.
While these venues often bring employers and minorities together
under the same roof, they do not guarantee that qualified
candidates will apply for a job, or, for that matter, even
show up at a company’s booth. Access the rest of this
article at: http://www.workforce.com/section/06/feature/24/36/59/index.html.
From Southern Compass -- MAY 16, 2006:
- Livability 101 Offers Eight Principles
For Creating Livable Communities. What makes a community
livable? The American
Institute of Architects addresses this question in a
publication entitled Livability 101. “Broadly speaking, a livable
community recognizes its own unique identity and places
a high value on the planning processes that help manage
growth and change to maintain and enhance its community
character,” the report emphasizes. Through a series
of essays, the publication goes on to discuss eight fundamental
planning and design principles, including a sense of
place, mixed-use development, and effective planning
for regional
transportation. View the report at: http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/Liv_AIALivability101_LR.pdf
- Southern Cities Rank High In Kiplinger’s 50 Smart
Places to Live List. The cost of living and the cost of
housing ranked at the top when Kiplinger’s Personal
Finance recently asked readers what was most important
in choosing
a place to live. Access to health care and a low crime
rate were also key considerations. With these types of
criteria
in mind, the magazine recently published a list of “50
Smart Places to Live.” The magazine named Nashville
as its top pick, in recognition of its affordable homes,
mild climate, and “phenomenal” entertainment
scene. Joining Nashville in the top ten were Atlanta, Kansas
City and Asheville. To see the list of all 50 cities, go
to: http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/features/archives/2006/05/intro.html You
can also find your own “best city” by entering
the criteria that are most important to you.
- New Report
Explores Training Policies For Less Skilled Adults. In
2004, nearly three million full-time workers
earned wages at or below the poverty line. According to
the MIT
Sloan Business School professor, Paul Osterman, the number
of working poor in America is rising and their chances
of escaping poverty are declining. The report, Employment
and
Training Policies: New Directions for Less Skilled Adults,
emphasizes the importance of training-based workforce development
in maintaining the country’s global competitiveness.
For more information visit: http://web.mit.edu/osterman/www/Emp-Train-Policies-New-Dirs-Less-Skilled.pdf
Guide lists federal resources for youth development. Published
by America's Promise, a coalition of communities, organizations,
businesses, and individuals supporting youth development
programs, the "Guide to Federal Resources for Youth
Development" provides information on federal funds available
to support youth development programs. The guide lists more
than 100 federal programs, including programs from the U.S.
Department of Justice, which are cross-referenced to five
core resources regarded as crucial to effective youth development.
The “Guide to Federal Resources for Youth Development” is
available online at http://www.americaspromise.org/partners/federal_funding_guidelines.pdf.
From May 12th Get Connected E-Letter:
- Virtual Meetings With gasoline prices
soaring and airline service tanking, now might be a good time
to invest in
online Web conferencing. These services can take the stress
out of business travel and save your small-business money.
Here are four to check out:
o GoToMeeting, www.gotomeeting.com
o WebEx Meeting Center, www.webex.com
o Raindance Meeting Edition, www.raindance.com
o Microsoft Office Live Meeting www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/products/livemeeting/detail.mspx
- Nifty ideas you can use to build a better business
- Hire Seniors. If you’re having trouble finding top
talent for your small business, give seniors a try. They
bring experience
developed from years in the workforce. They’re more
likely to stay on the job and less likely to job-hop than
younger employees. For businesses with a base of older
customers, seniors offer identification with your clients.
Learn more
about hiring seniors in the free Success Skills Seminar “The
Looming Labor Crisis.” Topics include:
o The race for workers
o Boomers to the rescue
o Senior workers on the job
o Training for all ages
o Finding the workers you need
Online now at: http://www.entrepreneurialconnection.com/skills/module29/skills_home.asp. Quote for the Week:
“A
good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after
a while he gets to know something.”
Wilson Mizner (1876 -
1933) |
