Workforce Florida Weekly Update 6-28-06

CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends

The State & Regions

Labor Secretary Announces $25.9 Million in Grants to Help More than 20,000 Veterans Find Jobs – Florida will receive grants in four regions. WASHINGTON—More than 20,000 veterans will receive the training they need to find good jobs thanks to 95 grants totaling $25.9 million, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today. Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) Grants were awarded to Volunteers of America - Florida in Regions 8, 13, and 22 (please see below). Also a $642K Vets Workforce Investment Program grant went to WorkNet Pinellas, RWB 14. The grants were awarded under the Department of Labor's Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). These grants are in addition to other programs that the Department of Labor offers to help veterans successfully transition into the workforce, including the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which protects the jobs and benefits of servicemen and women returning to civilian life. “In addition to the job protections offered by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, we need to do all we can to help America's veterans after they answer our country's call, often at great personal sacrifice,” said Secretary Chao. “These grants will help more than 20,000 veterans access the training and services they need to get good-paying jobs and build a better life for themselves and their families.” Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations, which have familiarity with the area and population to be served and can administer an effective program. The VWIP grants help veterans from targeted groups overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into unsubsidized jobs. Through these programs, veterans receive skills assessment, individual job counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrading and retraining, placement assistance and crucial follow-up services. The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) expects the VWIP grants to provide training for 5,500 veterans, resulting in 3,200 finding jobs. Veterans receiving assistance under these programs may also be eligible for services under other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers. To help homeless veterans, 69 current programs have received second and third-year funding in the amount of $16.6 million. Nine new grantees have been awarded $2.1 million. HVRP expedites reintegration into the labor force of homeless veterans with barriers to employment. The grants provide homeless veterans with occupational, classroom, and on-the-job training, job search help and job placement assistance, including crucial follow-up. VETS expects more than 9,000 homeless veterans to enter employment as a result of these grants. Grantees under both programs network and coordinate their efforts with various other local, state, and federal social-service providers. HVRP has been recognized as an extraordinarily efficient program and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless. More information on the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs can be found at www.dol.gov. To access the USDOL press release and table with funding awards go to:
http://www.dol.gov/PrinterFriendly/PrinterVersion.aspx?url=
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20051101.htm.

Governor Bush signs series of bills to benefit Florida veterans and active duty military troops. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush recently signed into law a series of bills that will provide additional benefits to Florida’s veterans and active duty military troops. Since 1999, Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature have worked diligently to establish Florida as a military and veteran-friendly state. In 2005, an interim study conducted by the U.S. House Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranked Florida highest overall in providing benefits to veterans. “On behalf of all Floridians, I thank our soldiers and veterans for their extraordinary dedication and service to our country,” said Governor Bush. “Their selfless dedication to our country commands not only our respect and admiration, but also our willingness to provide them and their families with assistance to improve their quality of life.”
? House Bill 7127 – Relating to Military Funerals
? Senate Bill 1370 – Relating to waiving the residency requirement for State Veterans Nursing Homes
? Senate Bill 2034 – Relating to the Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans Program
For more information on benefits and assistance for veterans, please visit www.floridavets.org. For more information on Governor Bush’s commitment to members of the armed forces, please visit www.myflorida.com.

Governor Bush awards rural infrastructure grant of more than $235,000 to Flagler County. TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush awarded Flagler County a Rural Infrastructure Fund Grant totaling $236,813 to assist in the retention of Sea Ray Boats, Inc., a manufacturer of high quality pleasure yachts. The grant will be used for roadway, sidewalks and drainage improvements that will help retain 644 full-time jobs within Flagler County. These 644 jobs contribute more than $21 million to the local economy in annual payroll dollars. “We are proud to support Flagler County’s efforts to retain an area manufacturer that provides more than 51 percent of the county’s manufacturing jobs,” said Governor Bush. “The infrastructure improvements will ease traffic flow for company employees, vendors and residents in nearby neighborhoods. Florida’s Rural Infrastructure Fund is a key component of our rural economic development efforts. The Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) administers the Rural Infrastructure Fund grant program created in 1996 by the Florida Legislature. The program helps rural communities make necessary infrastructure improvements to increase economic development in their regions. Flagler County worked closely with OTTED and Enterprise Florida, Inc. to secure this grant. "I want to thank Governor Bush and his Office of Tourism Trade and Economic Development for assisting us with funding from the Rural Infrastructure Fund for Project Sea Worthy," stated Jim Darby, Chairman of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. "These funds will assist us in lengthening and widening a critical corridor in order to disperse traffic in two directions. The improvements will directly retain 644 jobs and an additional 355 affected jobs in Flagler County.” REDI is a proactive, multi-agency effort coordinated by OTTED that assists rural communities resolve unique issues adversely impacting them. For more information on Florida’s economic development initiatives, please visit www.myflorida.com.

Florida Housing releases $100 million in mortgages (Orlando Business Journal - June 26, 2006). Florida Housing Finance Corp. has made $100 million in mortgages available to low- to moderate-income Floridians through the First Time Homebuyer Program.
The money is available at a 30-year, fixed interest rate of 5.75 percent and in 13 counties, including Brevard County, residents will be eligible for a 5.5 percent interest rate.
Florida Housing's First Time Homebuyer Program traditionally has made mortgages available to first time home buyers only, but this requirement has been waived in 13 counties affected by recent hurricanes. The other 12 counties include Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.
Freddie Mac has agreed to buy $25 million of bonds at 25 basis points through the market, which will subsidize the mortgage rate for home buyers in those 13 counties.
Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned company established by Congress in 1970 to support homeownership and rental housing. Florida Housing's First Time Homebuyer program (www.floridahousing.org) provided more than 1,100 mortgages statewide totaling close to $119 million in 2005. http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2006/06/26/daily12.html.

Marion Technical Institute recognized as first official replication site of the CHOICE model. Sandestin, FL – On June 15, 2006 at the CHOICE/Workforce Summit, Marion Technical Institute was recognized as the first official replication site of the CHOICE model, which originated in Okaloosa County. MTI was one of six sites awarded with start-up funding from Workforce Florida, Inc. to replicate the CHOICE model. The success of MTI is a result of the successful partnership of Marion County Public Schools, CLM Workforce Connection, the Ocala/Marion County EDC, and local business partners that came together to meet unanswered training and employment needs within the community. “As the beginning of our second year approaches, it’s exciting to gain recognition for the hard work we’ve put into designing and operating this community high school,” said MTI Principal Mark Vianello. “I cannot say enough about the support we’ve received from the business community and our partners, but I’m proud of our accomplishment.” To receive replication site status, a school must meet minimum standards of excellence in seven categories. MTI has demonstrated evidence of a working partnership between the workforce development board and the school district; attainment of measurable performance outcomes; marketing and/or recruitment efforts for core participants and partners; utilization of multiple training/instructional sites; basic components of the program with appropriate adaptations for the local environment; workforce development board and business/industry involvement in program-related research and development; collection of anecdotal data from core partners. MTI offers education in six academies including Information Technology, Building Construction, Culinary Arts/Bakery, Automotive Technology, Business and Finance, and Industrial Engineering. These academies have a school-to-work focus that builds students’ technical and workforce skills. In its first year, MTI has garnered the following achievements:
273 students earned certifications
26 graduates placed in training-related jobs
70 students in paid, training-related internships
23 students in unpaid, training-related internships
33 training-related, part-time jobs
Developed by Okaloosa Schools, CHOICE is a method of career education that allows high school students to achieve nationally recognized industry certifications in aerospace, information technology, construction technology, engineering, and digital design while at the same time receiving high school diplomas and fully-paid university credits. In its first two years of operation, CHOICE has enrolled over 1,600 students who have earned industry certifications, college credits, and scholarships worth nearly $5 million. The institutes are open to students attending public, charter, or private high schools as well as home schoolers.

OPPAGA Report: Florida’s System for Handling Consumer Complaints Could Be Improved (from the Florida Monitor Weekly-June 23, 2006). Most state agencies receive consumer complaints and have developed generally consistent mechanisms to help consumers resolve these complaints. In addition, two agencies—the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Office of the Attorney General—have a broader role, handling complaints against entities not regulated by the state, violations of Government in the Sunshine Laws, and economic crimes. However, comprehensive, enterprise-wide information about the consumer complaint services provided by agencies is not centrally collected and reported to policymakers. Florida law requires agencies to coordinate with each other through a statutorily mandated referral process, to ensure that state government is responsive to consumers. Although they do engage in some informal coordination, agencies often do not implement all provisions of the consumer services laws. The state’s consumer complaint resolution process could be improved by increasing communication among agencies, providing the Legislature more comprehensive information about agencies’ complaint-related activities, and reducing duplication. Access the full report at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/reports/cons/r06-51s.html.

Gulf States Disaster Symposium recording now available online. Audio/video recording of the breakout session presented at the Gulf States Disaster Symposium UWF President John Kavanaugh and key staff on the experiences and lessons learned by UWF as a result of hurricanes Ivan and Dennis is now available online. The recording is being widely disseminated among university and college channels. Workforce Florida was invited to make it available to our partners and local institutions of higher education. It is being considered to be included as part of the online resource library being assembled by FIND and FLVOAD, mainly using the material developed for the Gulf States Symposium. Access the recording at: http://wuwf.tv/archives/arch.htm

The Nation

States brace for new welfare regulations - Rules will establish stricter definitions of work participation for assistance recipients (KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press). WASHINGTON - No more bed rest, going on errands for a friend or reading the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" to fulfill work requirements for welfare. The Bush administration will issue new regulations today that clarify what states can count when it comes to work participation under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. Under the law, states are supposed to have at least half of their welfare recipients in approved work activities or face cuts in funding of up to 5 percent. However, states have been on their own in defining those work activities.
Some have gone too far, the administration says. Congress recently instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to draft regulations that would explicitly define the 12 work categories cited in federal law. For instance, on-the-job training will be defined, as will community service and unsubsidized employment. In a recent speech, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt signaled that he wanted stricter definitions of work. He questioned Wisconsin's use of bed rest as a work activity. He also questioned other activities, such as motivational reading.
" Needless to say, I think we can all agree we need to have a better definition of what constitutes work," Leavitt told officials at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
The Government Accountability Office said last year there were too many differences in how states defined work. For instance, of 10 states reviewed, five said caring for a disabled family member would meet work participation requirements. Five did not. Six states counted substance abuse treatment as work, but four did not. Such inconsistent definitions make for unreliable comparisons when determining which states do a good job of helping residents find work, the GAO said. Wade Horn, the HHS assistant secretary who oversees welfare, said in an interview that the regulations will reflect the average American's definition of job training, community service, or any of the other work activities already established in law. "The average person doesn't believe that bed rest is what they would understand as a job-readiness activity," Horn said. "The danger in not using common sense definitions for these categories is that the American people start to believe that the government is playing games with them." But some social services analysts worry that the new approach could stifle innovative programs undertaken by the states. They say such approaches have helped reduce the welfare rolls by 57 percent over the past decade. "Every state's economy is different and states are dealing with different challenges among the welfare recipients that remain on the caseload," said Sheri Steisel, director of human services policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Steisel said there can be logical explanations for some activities the administration has ridiculed. Consider the administration's example of bed rest, she said. "If a woman is in her ninth month of pregnancy, some states, for example, used bed rest as a way of making sure the recipient didn't lose their welfare assistance while they were either out ill or on bed rest, similar to the real work world where sometimes women have to go on leave prior to the birth of a child," Steisel said.
Changes approved to the nation's welfare program in 1996 set limits on how long people could obtain cash assistance. Since the law went into effect, the welfare rolls have dropped from about 4.4 million families to under 2 million.

NASWA provides State-by-State Impact of House Rescission on WIA Programs. Access a copy of CRS' breakdown of the House's proposed rescission on a state by state basis across all three formula streams at:
http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2006/FY%2007%20WIA%20House%20State-by-State%20Rescission%20proposal.pdf

USDA and DOE announce national renewable energy conference for October - Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel Bodman today announced that the two agencies will co-host a national renewable energy conference to help create partnerships and strategies necessary to accelerate commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution systems, the crux of President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI). The conference, Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance, is scheduled for October 10-12, 2006, in St. Louis, Missouri. From Wall Street to Main Street, investors are seeking to understand potential markets. This conference will focus on elements of President Bush's AEI, specifically biomass, wind and solar research and commercialization. USDA and DOE expect the conference to identify major impediments, review challenges and make recommendations to help accelerate renewable energy technology development; examine key incentives that would help promote certainty and reduce risk for investors and developers in the marketplace; review challenges of developing new distribution systems; and raise public awareness. USDA and DOE expect conference attendees to cover a broad spectrum of interests, including: agriculture, energy, transportation, financial and investment, federal and state government, and elected officials. In announcing the biodiesel facility loan and grant, Johanns said the funding recipient is Riksch BioFuels LLC, which will construct a plant near Crawfordsville, Iowa. Twenty-five investors, including farmers and business owners, already have raised over $3.3 million for the project and will receive $400,000 from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. For the past several years, USDA Rural Development has provided renewable energy grants. During FY 2005, 154 grants totaling over $22 million were awarded. Today's announcement brings the amount of renewable energy loans guaranteed to $13.35 million. Since the start of the Bush Administration, Rural Development has funded more than $356 million in renewable energy and energy efficiency ventures through various programs. The President's AEI requests $2.1 billion, a 22 percent budget increase at DOE. The AEI aims to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and increase production of domestically grown fuel, which will in turn, promote U.S. job growth and increase energy security. Information regarding the October conference will be available on both USDA and DOE's website at www.usda.gov and www.energy.gov.

NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin - June 23, 2006
HEADLINES:

• FY 2007 APPROPRIATIONS: CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOO
• ? COMMITTEE REPORT ON FY 2007 WORKFORCE SYSTEM SPENDING BILL IS AVAILABLE
• NASWA COMMUNICATION EFFORTS ON APPROPRIATIONS FOCUSED ON RESCISSION
• USDOL ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS TO ASSIST VETERANS
• WEBINAR ON LEP SCHEDULED
• TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR NASWA PRESIDENT-ELECT
• STATES HAVE UNTIL JULY 21 TO SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS OR POLICY STATEMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION DURING ANNUAL MEETING
• NASWA LEADERSHIP POSTS UP IN SEPTEMBER
• NOMINATIONS FOR NASWA AWARDS DUE JULY 7
• SAVE THE DATE: NASWA's 70th ANNUAL CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 5-8, 2006
  Access the complete articles at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/
  bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu062306.cfm

Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and Notices

For additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.

Featured Opportunity:

Workforce Florida’s First Jobs/First Wages Council has issued a grant solicitation titled ‘Replication of the CHOICE Career Institute’. (REPEAT) Only Regional Workforce Boards are eligible to apply. The purpose of this Grant Solicitation is to seek applications for projects that replicate the Community High Okaloosa Institutes for Career Education (CHOICE) developed and implemented by the Okaloosa County School District in school year 2003-04. This is Phase II of CHOICE replication which was started under a similar grant solicitation issued in November 2004. Submissions are due July 25, 2006; 5:00 PM, Eastern For more information go to: http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/rfp/index.htm#grant.

State Grants

(none)

Federal Grants

(none)

Foundation Grants

(none)

Scholarships/Awards

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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.

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:

June 29, 2006
Webinar: Alternative Educational Pathways: Cooperative Education & Career Ladders
Time: 11:00am Eastern (10am/Central, 9am/Mountain, 8am/Pacific) Length: 75 minutes
NEW! 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 webinar featuring representatives from Disney World, Deloitte Tax LLP, and Camp Dresser & McKee, who will discuss their company's investment in cooperative education and career ladders. Presenters: Kristi Breen, Manager of College Campus and International Recruitment, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL; Casey Carlson, National Director of Campus Recruiting, Deloitte Tax LLP; Bill Howard, Executive Vice President, Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc., Cambridge, MA. Moderator: Dr. James McKenney, V.P., Economic Development and International Programs, A.A.C.C., Washington, D.C..This webinar will discuss how three leading businesses invest in developing a skilled workforce and the role of postsecondary educational institutions in their Cooperative Education strategy. Research indicates that one of the desirable attributes that employers look for in job applicants is work experience. Students need both experience to get hired, and need to get hired to gain experience. Cooperative education and career ladders are alternatives to the linear traditional path of the high school-to-college-to-work model. Learn from these industry leaders about best practices and successes in implementing alternative educational pathways. 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 and register for free today! http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=109

June 29, 2006
Webinar: ETA Competency Initiative: A Competency Model Framework for Advanced Manufacturing
Time: 2:00pm Eastern (1pm/Central, 12pm/Mountain, 11am/Pacific) Length: 90 minutes
NEW! Working in partnership with representatives from the industry, ETA has developed a dynamic industry-driven framework of the foundational and technical competencies necessary for an entry-level worker in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector. This new framework is highly integrated into the Solicitation for Grant Applications under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative for Advanced Manufacturing, which has been published on www.grants.gov.
The purpose of this Webinar is to inform the Workforce System partners about the ETA competency initiative, and ETA's role to promote the development of High-Growth Industry competency models. The participants will learn about the content of the model as well as the process undertaken to develop the model. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in a discussion of its value and intended use to ensure that workforce development efforts meet the needs of employers in the advanced manufacturing industry. Presenters: Mike Jaffe, Industry Lead for Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace, Business Relations Group, ETA;
Pam Frugoli, Industry Competency Project Lead, Workforce System Support, ETA;
Phyllis Eisen, Vice President, The Manufacturing Institute; Eric Mittelstadt, Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Advanced Manufacturing Mark Tomlinson, Director of Membership, Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This manufacturing competency framework is intended to reduce duplication of effort in separate projects that identify and re-validate core competencies—academic, workplace, and technical—that every worker in the industry needs to know and be able to do. The objective is to free up resources, time, and energy for innovative development of competency content that can keep up with the pace of changing technology and reflect the changing requirements of specific regions, industry segments, or businesses.
ETA plans to use industry models to guide investments, including investments to appropriate partners to develop curriculum, career ladders, guidance information, or credentials in content areas where the competency model reveals there are gaps in existing resources. 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 and register today!
http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=102

June 30, 2006
Webinar: Tapping into the Pipeline of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Workers
Time: 2:00pm Eastern (1pm/Central, 12pm/Mountain, 11am/Pacific) Length: 90 minutes
In this workforce3one Webinar, participants will learn about solutions that have been successfully implemented to develop a pipeline of Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals with the skills demanded by business and industry. The session will highlight the partnerships and program designs that have proven effective in tapping into this labor pool. It will also identify strategies used to overcome the challenges inherent in developing and implementing successful training programs that combine language skills training with vocational training.
Presenters: Barbara Tondre-EL Zorkani, Texas LEARNS
Joan Foley & Christie Timms, Digital Learning Group
Kristin Kautz, Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Scott Sheely, Executive Director of the Lancaster County WIB
Moderator: Jacqui Shoholm, Director, Policy, Legislation & Regulations, Office of Policy Development & Research, Employment & Training Administration
Erik Lang, National Monitor Advocate, Division of Adult Services, Employment & Training Administration
Registration for this Webinar is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the link below to login to Workforce3 One and register today.
http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=107

June 30, 2006
A 21st Century Summit - Career Pathways: Rebirth of Career/Technical Education in Florida
Indian River Community College
Fort Pierce, FL
NEW! Join Indian River Community College and Senator Ken Pruitt for Career Pathways: Rebirth of Career and Technical Education in Florida. This statewide summit will explore career and technical education in Florida and provide an opportunity for interactive dialog on how to enhance this vital component of Florida's higher education system. For registration, agenda, hotel and other more information go to: http://www.ircc.edu/summit/.

July 11, 2006
Salute our Heroes Career Expo and Job Fair
Tampa, FL
NEW! The Salute our Heroes Career Expo and Job Fair information is available on the AWI website at: http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/os_job_fairs.html.The following link is an eblast on the event and attached is an exhibitor’s package for your use and information.
http://www.nytimes.com/marketing/jobmarket/jobfair/saluteourheroes/
For additional information, please contact Mitch Collier, Mitch.Collier@awi.state.fl.us or Shawn Forehand, Shawn.Forehand@awilstate.fl.us.

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/.

August 21 –August 23, 2006
Florida Coalition for the Homeless 11th Annual Statewide Conference
Tampa, FL
The Florida Coalition for the Homeless 11th Annual Statewide Conference is moving. In order to increase our participation and maintain the many events and activities of the Conference, we have chosen to move the Conference to the Double Tree WestShore in Tampa. This move does not change the cost of registration or attendee room cost. We hope you can still join us for this exciting and informative annual event and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Conference Registration Fee: $250.00 before July 1st after July 1st $275.00
Daily Fee: 100.00
Hotel Fee: $99.00 per night.
You can book your hotel reservations now: Double Tree, Tampa Westshore: 1.800.222.8733
We are working diligently to finalize the agenda for the conference and we are lining up some great speakers and fun activities for this networking opportunity. The National Health Care for the Homeless will be providing two full days of training sessions. The Homeless Liaisons from the state will have a track for youth in school districts. We are working with several state agencies to provide some much needed training on workforce and health issues. We look forward to seeing you in Tampa! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our offices for more details. For more information on this conference contact Barbara Finnegan at: (813) 223-6115 or barbara@homelessofhc.org. Visit the website at: http://www.flacoalitionhomeless.com/.

August 30 – September 1, 2006
Farm to Fuel Summit
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is hosting a Farm to Fuel Summit to be held August 30 through September 1 in Orlando. This summit will help Florida take the next step in promoting the production, distribution, and use of renewable fuels, particularly ethanol. This high-profile event will feature speakers and panelists representing international, national and state perspectives on issues of research, production and distribution of biofuels. For room reservations, contact the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate at 1-800-843-6664 or (407) 390-6664, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, and ask for the Farm to Fuel Summit. The Summit group rate is $139 per night. Reservations must be made no later than Monday, July 28, 2006. For more information and registration go to: http://www.florida-agriculture.com/farmtofuel_summit.htm

Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2006
2006 ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo
Connecting Education and Careers:
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
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 . The Workforce Tools of the Trade website will no longer be active after June 30, 2006. Workforce Tools of the Trade would like to thank you for your support of this website for many years. We realize the value of up-to-date information, tools and services to help workforce professionals stay abreast of new and innovative resources and practices. Though the Workforce Tools of the Trade website will no longer operate, you will find many of the same tools, information, and features for workforce professionals on these two other U.S. Department of Labor websites: www.Workforce3one.org and www.CareerOneStop.org. Workforce3One offers workforce investment leaders and practitioners, economic development professionals, educators and employers an innovative knowledge network for learning, collaborating and transforming. CareerOneStop offers career tools and workforce information to workforce professionals, jobseekers and employers.

Odds and Ends

Youth Report To America: Youth want more jobs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has published the results of its Youth Report To America, the largest national survey developed and administered by teens. In the report, 46,000 young people (ages 13-18) deliver a candid message to America. With compelling findings on topics ranging from the Iraq war to violence in schools and from education to the pursuit of the American Dream, the Report spotlights the perceptions of America's youth. In response to the question “What would you like to see done differently for teens in our country”, more than a third (39%) chose “more youth jobs” above any other response choice. To access this report, please visit: http://www.bgca.org/youth/index.html

National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF) Institute Announces New Audioconferences for 2006. Register for these free, hour-long audioconferences to learn new ideas, strategies, and innovative programs to help children, youth, and families succeed. The 2006 Schedule includes:
September 21, 2006 - "Building Public Will: Promoting Citizen Engagement to Improve Your City's Schools" - (4:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
October 19, 2006 - "Strengthen Working Families and Local Economies: How to Mount a Successful EITC Outreach Campaign" - (12:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
November 16, 2006 - "Keeping Young People Safe: Effective Mayor-Law Enforcement Partnerships" - (2:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
December 14, 2006 - "A Seat at the Table: Engaging Youth as City Leaders" - (4:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
For more information, transcripts of previous audioconferences, upcoming Audioconference Schedule and registration visit: http://www.nlc.org/iyef/events___audioconferences/1607.cfm

2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book Shows Troubling Child Well-Being Indicators, Successful Early Childhood Development Key to Improving Trend Lines. BALTIMORE – National trends in child well-being are no longer improving in the steady way they did in the late 1990s, according to a report released today. The 17th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation also looks at the critical role that early childhood development plays in preparing millions of American children for success in school and life, and discusses ways to support home-based child-care providers. The annual Data Book shows that three out of 10 child well-being indicators have worsened since 2000. There were more than 13 million children living in poverty in 2004 – an increase of 1 million over four years. There was an increase in the percentage of low-birthweight babies between 2000 and 2003 and an increase in the number of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment. “KIDS COUNT does contain good news in four areas: the child death rate and the teen death rate have fallen, the teen birth rate has continued to go down, and the high school dropout rate has improved,” says William O’Hare, senior fellow at the Casey Foundation and author of the 2006 report. Looking across all well-being indicators, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut rank highest, and New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi rank the lowest. Each year, the Data Book reports on the needs and conditions of America’s most disadvantaged children and families, as well as on the statistical trends. In 2006, the Casey Foundation looks at how to improve early childhood development experiences and opportunities for young children living in low-income neighborhoods. “Strengthening early childhood development can help to assure that all children begin life on a level playing field,” says Douglas W. Nelson, president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore. “Bolstering the quality of child care is the best way to reach our youngest children early and help them develop the capacities they need to succeed.”
Access the complete press release and links to the full report at: http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/sld/db_press.jsp.

Education Week publishes “Diplomas Count: An Essential Guide to Graduation Policy and Rates” (from the Florida Monitor Weekly-June 23, 2006). This report, the first in an annual Graduation Project series, provides detailed data on graduation rates for the 2002-03 school year, the most recent data available, for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in the nation’s 50 largest school districts. Nearly 54% of Florida students who leave high school do so between ninth and 10th grade, far more than the national average of 35%. Teens and educators both said a single setback, such as a failed class, a poor score on a high-stakes test, family problems that lead to chronic absences, are reasons for leaving. Access the report at: http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2006/06/22/index.html.

Where Did They Go? The Decline of Middle-Income Neighborhoods in Metropolitan America has been published by the Brookings Institute. This report examines the income of families and neighborhoods across the nation using decennial census data going back to 1970. Data is broken down by family income levels and neighborhoods (from very low to very high) among the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the US. Selected findings:
• The number of very low income neighborhoods (50% or less of area median income) in the 100 most populous metro areas increased by more than 300% from 1970 to 2000.
• The share of middle income neighborhoods in the 100 largest metro areas declined from 31.7% in 1970 to 22.5% in 2000.
• 37% of lower income families in 2000 lived in middle income neighborhoods, compared to 55% in 1970.
• The share of very high income families (more than 150% of area median income) among the 100 largest metro areas increased from 23.6% in 1970 to 28.1% in 2000.
• The Los Angeles - Long Beach metro area experienced a 23.6% decline in middle income neighborhoods from 1970 to 2000.
Access the complete report at: http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20060622_middleclass.pdf.

Kauffman Foundation Study on Entrepreneurial Activity Shows Entrepreneurs Increasingly Foreign-Born and Getting Grayer. (KANSAS CITY, Mo.), May 23, 2006 - Immigrants far outpaced native-born Americans in entrepreneurial activity last year while African Americans were the only major ethnic or racial group to experience a year-to-year increase in the rate of entrepreneurship, according to a national assessment of entrepreneurial activity by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The rate of entrepreneurial activity for immigrants in 2005 was 0.35 percent compared to 0.28 percent for native-born Americans, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. In other words, approximately 350 out of 100,000 immigrants started a business per month in 2005 compared to 280 out of 100,000 native-born Americans. These rates represent approximately 85,000 immigrants creating new businesses per month and 379,000 native-born individuals creating new businesses per month. Access this article and the full report at: http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=703.

Hearing about a problem is worse than experiencing it (from Word of Mouth Marketing Association). Although the following refers to consumers, I believe that much the same applies to a tradeshow experience. When a consumer hears about a negative shopping experience from a friend, it is likely to prevent them from setting foot in that store altogether. The Customer Dissatisfaction Study conducted by the Verde Group and Baker Retailing Initiative at Wharton found that negative Word of Mouth (WOM) influences future patronage up to five times more than the person who experiences the problem first- hand. Other key findings include:
* 31% of consumers tell one or more friends about the problems they experience in a store.
* On average, consumers tell four other people about their negative shopping experience.
* Almost 50% of shoppers said they avoided a particular store in the past because of someone else's negative experience. Learn more about WOM at: http://womma.org/index.htm.

Quote for the Week:

“When the cup is full, carry it even”

Scotts Proverb

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