CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Leadership changes at AWI Office of Workforce Services. Susan Simpler, Deputy Director for the Agency for Workforce
Innovation will be leaving the agency at the end of July
to return to the Pensacola area. “Susan has been a
significant contributor to this agency and especially to
the Office of Workforce Services,” says Barbara Griffin,
Assistant Director at AWI. “Her extensive and practical
knowledge of workforce programs and her experience in local
and regional operations have been invaluable.” Her
successor will be J. Wyatt Pope who previously served at
the Executive Director for the Region 5 Workforce Board in
Tallahassee and most recently the Vice-President and Regional
Vice-President for a private sector workforce services provider.
AWI releases Florida's employment/unemployment report
for April 2006. Florida’s unemployment rate in April 2006
was 3.0 percent, down from March’s 3.1 percent and
down 0.9 percentage points from 3.9 percent a year ago. Job
growth in April continued to be robust, as the state added
261,300 jobs over the year, growing at 3.4 percent, more
than twice the national rate. The national rate of growth
was 1.5 percent for the same period. Based on the latest
available data, Florida continues to lead other states in
the nation in the number of new jobs created and has the
fastest rate of job growth and the lowest unemployment rate
among the ten most populous states. Florida's seasonally
adjusted unemployment rate for April 2006 of 3.0 percent
was 1.7 percentage points lower than the national rate of
4.7 percent. Job growth by sector was led by Professional
and Business Services (+59,100 jobs), Construction (+48,600
jobs), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+43,900 jobs),
Leisure and Hospitality (+34,200 jobs), and Education and
Health services (+22,100 jobs). The construction industry
had the fastest rate of growth of all sectors, growing by
8.6 percent over the year. The Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami
Beach MSA led the state in employment growth (+59,500 jobs,
+2.5 percent), followed by the Orlando-Kissimmee and Tampa-St.
Petersburg-Clearwater MSAs with over-the-year job growth
in April 2006 of +43,700 jobs and +30,600 jobs, respectively.
In April 2006, all of Florida’s counties had an unemployment
rate lower than the national average of 4.5 percent, and
37 of them had unemployment rates lower than the state average
of 2.8 percent. Walton County had the lowest unemployment
rate in April at 1.8 percent. Hendry County was the highest
at 4.3 percent. Access the full report at: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf.
BellSouth Foundation awards $600,000 grant to University
of Florida College of Education. ATLANTA — The BellSouth
Foundation yesterday announced that the University of Florida
College of Education will receive a $600,000 grant to develop
a comprehensive strategy for measuring and assessing the
outcomes of the BellSouth 20/20 Vision for Education initiative.
The $20 million initiative commemorates the Foundation’s
20th anniversary and is designed to bring engaging, rigorous,
online instruction to students throughout the Southeast – particularly
low-income and minority students – to address the growing
achievement gap and improve graduation rates. The initiative
focuses on strengthening state-led virtual schools and supporting
e-Learning in the communities BellSouth serves. Under the
five-year grant, UF education researchers headed by education
technology specialist Richard Ferdig, will develop standardized
methods for evaluating the effectiveness of online education
for students. In collaboration with BellSouth’s virtual
high school partners, the researchers will then use the new
evaluation tools to determine the best teaching practices
and strategies for online instruction, particularly to students
of diverse backgrounds. “Studies have already proven
that learning through online schooling is effective,” said
Ferdig. “Our study will move beyond the question of
whether virtual schooling works, focusing instead on when
and how online instruction works most effectively. Our aim
is to provide a comprehensive set of tools for regional virtual
schools to improve the quality of online instruction and
student performance.” Ferdig’s co-researchers
at UF are Tom Dana, professor of education and chairman of
the college’s School of Teaching and Learning, and
education technology doctoral students Erik Black and Meredith
DiPietro. The centerpiece of the evaluation plan for BellSouth
20/20 Vision for Education will include drawing on existing
research and current virtual school practice to create a
database of metrics useful for school improvement. The online
database will provide multiple reporting mechanisms that
will provide implications for funding, policy, and practice.
It will also be used by the virtual schools to provide timely,
continuous feedback for data-driven decision making and evaluation
of existing policies and practice. In addition, University
of Florida researchers will test evaluation instruments to
improve student performance and increase the quality of online
instruction. “University of Florida has a national
reputation for innovative education research and this grant
recognizes their expertise in virtual learning,” said
Marshall Criser III, state president – Florida, BellSouth. “Our
partnership with them will be instrumental in supporting
our work with state-led virtual schools and furthering our
e-Learning efforts.” www.ufl.edu.
The Nation
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) last week
released the following Letter Report: Social Security Numbers:
Internet
Resellers Provide Few Full SSNs, but Congress Should Consider
Enacting Standards for Truncating SSNs. GAO-06-495, May 17
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-495
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06495high.pdf
SBA’s Disaster Loan Approvals to Businesses Top $2 billion;
Another $685 Million Delivered To Affected Areas Through Conventional
Business Loan Programs. WASHINGTON – With processing
nearly completed on disaster loan applications filed by businesses
affected by last fall’s hurricanes, the total dollar
amount of approved loans for businesses has surpassed a record
$2 billion in the Gulf Coast region. In addition, SBA’s
regular small business loan programs have provided another
$685 million in loans to small businesses in the affected areas.
Through May 15, with more than 96 percent of business applications
processed, SBA has approved $2.02 billion in disaster loans
to 20,482 businesses. Louisiana has the most, with $1.17 billion,
followed by Mississippi with $437 million, Florida with $280
million, Texas with $95 million and Alabama with $33 million.
Overall, including loans to homeowners and renters whose property
was damaged, 144,750 loans worth $9.4 billion have been approved.
Aside from the disaster recovery loans, more than 3,635 loans
totaling $685 million have been made to small businesses in
the affected areas through the SBA’s two conventional
business loan programs: the 7(a) general business loan guarantee
program and the 504 Certified Development Company loan program. “Putting
money into the hands of businesses in the Gulf Coast communities
remains our top priority,” said SBA Administrator Hector
V. Barreto. “These businesses are the economic foundation
of the region’s renewal and spirit, and we are going
to stay on the job until it’s done. “The challenges
these businesses face are significant,” Barreto noted. “They
have to rebuild their facilities and communications, recover
records, find and hire employees, reestablish a client base,
and acquire inventory. In New Orleans, a city where half of
the residents haven’t returned, those are major obstacles.
But over time, they will overcome them, and the SBA and its
resource partners will be here to help with financing and counseling.” Barreto
noted that many businesses have been approved for loans but
have not yet scheduled a loan closing or requested disbursement
of the approved funds. So far, $266.6 million has been disbursed
to borrowers under the agency’s two disaster loan programs
for businesses. “We are eager to disburse these loans
and help the people of these communities put this money to
work as quickly as possible,” Barreto said. “We
urge everyone whose loan application has been approved and
is ready to start rebuilding to call our Customer Service Center
at 1-800-659-2955 or e-mail us at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
and arrange for a loan closing.” For more information
on the SBA’s disaster assistance programs, please visit:
http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/hurricanes/.
Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – May
19, 2006.
•
HOUSE PASSES BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR $2.8 TRILLION FOR FY 2007
•
NOW IS THE TIME TO WRITE LETTERS AND MAKE CALLS TO CONGRESSIONAL
APPROPRIATORS
•
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO REVISE LAW ON SERVICES FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS
•
ETA PUBLISHES TEGL ON NEGOTIATIONS OF PY 2006 PEFORMANCE GOALS
UNDER COMMON MEASURES
•
CHANGES IN INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
•
TICKET TO WORK: SSA ANNOUNCES COMPETITION FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS
TO ASSIST SSA BENEFICIARIES WITH DISABILITIES RETURN TO WORK
•
IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPLETES INTERNAL INVESTIGATION
For the full articles go to:
http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/
bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu051906.cfm
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
(none)
State Grants (none)
Federal Grants
Self-employment for Adults and Youth with Disabilities Research
and Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement Grants
Targeted Capacity Building Program
CCF Demonstration Cooperative Agreement Program
Assets for Independence Grants (Repeat)
Foundation Grants
Sociological Initiatives Foundation Grants
Scholarships/Awards
Sixteenth Maxwell Awards of Excellence Program
Community Health Leadership Awards
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.
June 21, 2006
Council Chairs Teleconference 9:00am – 10:00am
Executive Committee Teleconference 10:00am – 11:30am
Contact Peggy Dransfield at: pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
July 19, 2006
Council Chairs Teleconference 9:00am – 10:00am
Executive Committee Teleconference 10:00am – 11:30am
Contact Peggy Dransfield at: pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
August 23, 2006
Executive Directors Meeting (Partners Meeting)
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville – Riverfront Hotel
Contact Peggy Dransfield at: pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
August 24, 2006
Council & Committee Meetings
10:00am – 12:00pm
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville – Riverfront Hotel
Contact Peggy Dransfield at: pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
August 24, 2006
Board of Directors Meeting
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville – Riverfront Hotel
Contact Peggy Dransfield at: pdransfield@workforceflorida.com
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
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.
Watch the Conference
website for further program updates and to register at: http://www.workforceinnovations.org/.
Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2006
2006 ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo
Connecting Education and Careers:
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
NEW! Atlanta is gearing up for a great professional development
experience. At the end of November, more than 5,000 career
and technical educators will travel to the PeachPico Collection
State to participate in the only professional development event
dedicated to the entire career and technical education (CTE)
field. From November 30 to December 2, career and technical
educators will have their choice of workshops, seminars and
sessions on a wide variety of CTE topics. Register today and
you can get the best rates, your choice of hotel options, and
first choice on the pre-Convention workshop. All of the information
you need is located in the right-hand navigation bar. So, take
some time, take a look, and then make the choice to join your
colleagues in Atlanta. For more information and to register
visit: www.acteonline.org.
USDOL’s Workforce Tools of the Trade Workforce Investment
Systemwide Events Page. http://www.workforcetools.org/calendar.asp
Odds and Ends
Credit Scores, Reports, and Getting Ahead in America – new
report from the Brookings Institute. Credit scores are a
key tool, and potential hindrance, to negotiating American
consumer life for all families, but especially working families.
Though their use has enabled lenders to open new markets
for credit, this expansion has been accompanied by increasing
financial insecurity. However, adjustments to the system
could benefit both lenders, by reducing defaults, and consumers.
Access the full report at: http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20060501_creditscores.htm
A Weapon in the War for Talent: Guerilla Recruiting. Dr.
John Sullivan, a leading global human resource strategist,
has been a columnist for Workforce Management since March
and we are now thrilled to announce an exclusive webcast
featuring his ideas, A Weapon in the War for Talent: Guerilla
Recruiting. As a recognized thought leader on topics ranging
from talent management to integrative workforce strategy,
Dr. Sullivan has been working to challenge the archaic perceptions
that have limited human resource contributions to business
for more than 30 years. Get ready for an experience that
will challenge your thought process about recruiting and
turn you into a winner in the global war for talent. Register
today at: www.workforce.com/webcast/talentwar.
Affordable Housing Crisis Spreads to Lee County's
Middle Class Families (from New Smart Growth Network State by State
Headlines -- May 2006). Lee County learned that an affordable
housing shortage has cost it $250 million a year in lost
jobs, taxes and economic opportunities as early as 2002,
but did little to handle the problem, while home prices kept
escalating over the past two years and the affordability
crisis spread from low-income families to the middle class,
with people earning between $43,000 and $81,000 a year also
unable to buy a median-priced house anywhere near work, says
the Charlotte Sun-Herald, emphasizing that they make up almost
40 percent of the county work force, but don't qualify for
down payment assistance. For the complete article go to:
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5409&state=10.
Quote for the Week:
“Let
me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal.
My strength lies solely in my tenacity.”
Louis Pasteur (1822 -
1895) |
