CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Governor Bush proclaims September 4 - 8, 2006 Workforce
Development Week!
WHEREAS, meaningful employment is fundamental to maintaining
healthy families and strong communities; and
WHEREAS, it is vital that Florida businesses utilize the
skilled talent necessary to maintain Florida’s economic
leadership; and
WHEREAS, Florida’s workforce system is critical to
the economic development of our state; and
WHEREAS, Florida's workforce development system, including
the dedicated men and women from the regional workforce boards
and One-Stop Career Centers coordinated in partnership as
Employ Florida statewide, bolsters the state’s strong
economic climate and expands job opportunities for all Floridians;
and
WHEREAS, the efforts of Florida’s workforce professionals
contribute to maintaining Florida’s position as a national
leader in economic growth and offering new economic opportunities
for all Floridians;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of Florida,
do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all those observing
September 4 - 8, 2006, as Workforce Development Week in Florida.
For the official document in PDF format visit: www.workforceflorida.com.
Florida’s Strengthening Youth Partnership Initiative
members chosen to participate in Advanced Youth Forum. Shared
Youth Vision Federal Collaborative Partnership (SYVFCP) has
selected Florida representatives to attend the Advanced Level
Technical Assistance Youth Vision Forums (ALTAYVF). The Florida
team is made up of members of the Strengthening Youth Partnership
(SYP), a Workforce Florida First Jobs/First Wages initiative.
It is through the SYP that the federal New Youth Vision is
being implemented in Florida. At the forum, teams will receive
facilitated assistance around higher-level strategic thinking
to further advance their efforts to develop “demand-driven
workforce solutions” for advancing the neediest youth
into the workforce. At least one representative from each
partner agency on the state team is expected to attend the
forum (maximum of 12 total members). The Forum will take
place in Atlanta on September, 20-21, 2006. For more information
contact Freida Sheffield, WFI at: fsheffield@workforceflorida.com.
WorkSource to provide key labor data - Over 11, 000
employers will be contacted. Jacksonville, Florida, August 28, 2006:
In an effort to establish comprehensive, accurate data on
the area’s workforce, WorkSource will conduct an ambitious
telephone survey beginning August 28th, 2006. If a business
has more than ten employees, they will get a call. This is
the ninth annual workforce survey conducted by WorkSource.
The survey will focus in on targeted industries for economic
development in Northeast Florida, making special effort to
contact companies in aviation, health services, specialty
manufacturing, financial services, and logistics and distribution.
The survey information will be gathered through telephone
interviews, and will aid WorkSource in predicting future
workforce trends, as well as serving as a resource to local
employers. The information will benefit job seekers, employers,
students, education and training organizations, and economic
development efforts. Survey results will be used to update
the interactive web site (www.usworks.com/jacksonville).
The site now contains 2005 survey data.
The dynamic web site also offers employers a customized recruiting
site through its Business Online feature. Job seekers can
build electronic resumes through the site, and email alerts
let businesses and applicants know when their skills and
needs match. As of August 2006, over 1,500 businesses and
3,800 jobseekers had used the site to obtain salary information
and job postings. “We hope that the local business
community will take the time to participate in the survey,” said
Candace Moody, vice president for WorkSource. “The
local labor market s heating up, and current data will help
employers be more competitive in salary and benefits. Job
seekers also need to know what to expect in Jacksonville’s
job market. The data will be up-to-date, accessible, and
very local.” The telephone interviews will begin the
week of August 28, 2006. Employers will receive a pre-survey
fax alert prior to their call. Individual interviews, conducted
with a Human Resources representative or hiring authority,
will last about 10 minutes. Following completion of the survey,
the data will be compiled and analyzed and the 2006 results
should be posted on the web site by the end of November.
Employers can ensure that they are contacted for the survey
by calling WorkSource at (904) 798-9229, extension 2201.
The Nation
New Census findings released: Income Climbs, Poverty
Stabilizes, Uninsured Rate Increases. Real median household income in the
United States rose by 1.1 percent between 2004 and 2005, reaching
$46,326, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census
Bureau. Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate
remained statistically unchanged at 12.6 percent. The percentage
of people without health insurance coverage rose from 15.6
percent to 15.9 percent (46.6 million people). These findings
are contained in the Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2005 report. The report’s
data were compiled from information collected in the 2006 Annual
Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population
Survey (CPS). To access the full press release with links to
the report go to: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/
archives/income_wealth/007419.html.
U.S. Department of Labor Proposes Trade Act Rules
- Increased Access to Employment Training Services Proposed
for Trade-Affected
Workers. The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rules concerning
management of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reform
Act of 2002. A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the
Federal Register lays out changes that would ensure the administration
of TAA programs will be more aligned with the employment and
training services offered through the nation's One-Stop service
delivery system established by the Workforce Investment Act
of 1998 (WIA). " These proposed rules are designed to
provide trade-affected workers with increased access to services
that will help them return to work in growing industries with
sustainable employment opportunities," said Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover
DeRocco. "The changes being proposed will support flexible
training options and offer workers a network of opportunities
to prepare for new careers." The TAA program assists individuals
who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports
or shifts in production to foreign countries. TAA-certified
workers may access a menu of services that include training,
income support, relocation allowances, job search allowances,
and a health insurance coverage tax credit. Changes to the
TAA regulations proposed in today's NPRM would incorporate
many of the Bush Administration's reforms to the program making
services more available to workers. These include flexible
training options, including distance learning, enhanced training
provider performance, and an equitable distribution of training
funds to states. The proposed changes further integrate the
TAA program with the One-Stop delivery system and other employment
and training services. The public will have 60 days to comment
on the proposed rules. Comments will be addressed before the
final rule is implemented. The August 25 Federal Register provides
the proposed rule and instructions for public comment – access
it at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2006/06-7067.pdf.
For additional information about the Trade Adjustment Assistance
program, please visit: www.doleta.gov/tradeact/.
HHS/ACF Proposes an Employer Survey in the TANF/Low-Wage
Labor Market. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
within the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed
a Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Labor Market
Survey. ACF notes: Understanding the motivations, hiring practices,
and work place policies of employers -- the demand side of
the labor market -- can provide considerable information to
policy makers interested in promoting work and advancement
among welfare recipients and other less-skilled workers. This
project will add to our knowledge in this area by surveying
employers in the TANF/low-wage labor market. We will survey
a national sample of employers, focusing on industry sectors
with the most jobs in the low-wage labor market, the employers
most relevant for the majority of current and recent TANF recipients.
The survey will gather information from employers on their
attitudes, practices, and policies toward TANF recipient and
other low-skill hires, including information on worker advancement,
the use of work force intermediaries in hiring, and the role
that child care plays in worker retention. The survey will
allow for comparisons of employers in urban-core areas, suburbs,
and exurbs/rural areas. It will also measure employment outcomes
for TANF recipients and other low-skilled workers, allowing
us to draw connections between employer practices and employee
outcomes. In short, this national survey of employers in the
low-wage labor market can provide key information on what employer
practices and policies are and how they are associated with
workplace success for welfare recipients and other less-skilled
workers. ACF indicates that the "nationally representative
sample of business establishments having 4 or more workers" would
result in an estimated 1,300 respondents. Copies of this proposed
collection instrument may be obtained from ACF's Office of
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance
Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of
the information collection. The E-mail address is: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov.
Since the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required
to make a decision concerning the collection of information
between 30 and 60 days after publication of this announcement,
a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB
receives it within 30 days of publication. Written comments
and recommendations for the proposed information collection
should be sent directly to the following: Office of Management
and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Desk Officer for ACF, E-mail address:
Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov. The August 21 Federal Register
provides full background and summarizes the desired focus for
public comment - access it at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2006/06-7036.pdf.
NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – August 25,
2006
HEADLINES:
- HHS PROPOSES SURVEY OF EMPLOYERS TO ASSESS THEIR PRACTICES
WITH LOW-WAGE WORKERS
- WRIS UPDATE
- MASS LAYOFF EVENTS INCREASE IN JULY BUT FEWER
WORKERS AFFECTED
- BLS MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW FOCUSES ON IMPACT
OF HURRICANE KATRINA
- NASWA CALLS FOR COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
- 2006 NASWA LMI
AWARDS PROGRAM
- NASWA 2006 ANNUAL NATIONAL LMI DIRECTORS
CONFERENCE
- NASWA MEMBERSHIP DUES
- NASWA's 70th ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
SEPTEMBER 5-8, 2006
- BULLETIN SCHEDULE
Access the complete articles at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/bulletin/
bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu082506.htm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
(none)
State Grants (none)
Federal Grants
Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program
2007 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Manufacturing Machines and Equipment
Manufacturing Enterprise Systems (MES)
2007 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business
Technology Transfer Programs Phase I
Tools to Aid State DOTs in Responding to Workforce Challenges
Foundation Grants
(None)
Scholarships/Awards
Accessible America Awards
2006-2009 Community Colleges Broadening Horizons Through Service
Learning National Grant
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.
September 20, 2006
WFI Council Chairmen Teleconference - 9:00am - 10:00am
WFI Executive Committee Teleconference - 10:00am - 11:30am
October 18, 2006
WFI Council Chairmen Teleconference - 9:00am - 10:00am
WFI Executive Committee Teleconference - 10:00am - 11:30am
November 29, 2006
Executive Directors (Partners) Meeting
Orlando, FL
Location TBD
November 30, 2006
Board of Directors, Council & Committee Meetings
Orlando, FL
Location TBD
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
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
September 1, 2006
U.S. Chamber Workforce & Education Conference Call
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
NEW! At the recent U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Innovations
conference in Anaheim, CA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chairman
Gerald Shaheen delivered remarks on the Chamber's more visible
stance in building a competitive workforce. Join CWP leadership
on Friday, September 1st in learning more about these new and
exciting developments in workforce and education initiatives
at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and how your organization can
become more involved! Dial-in number: (866) 525-0016: Meeting
Room Number: *4357885* For more information, contact U.S. Chamber
Program Manager Lydia Logan at 202-463-5398.
September 12, 2006
National Women's Business Council Webcast
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
NEW! The National Women's Business Council (NWBC) has announced
a forthcoming public Council Web cast, focusing on
policy priorities of women entrepreneurs. The NWBC Web cast
will broadcast on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, starting at
3 p.m. until 4 p.m., online at http:/client.uvault.com/nwbc/.
No registration is required to participate online. The purpose
of this one-hour Web cast is to discuss public policies impacting
women business owners and their enterprises. Decisions made
in Congress have a profound impact on women-owned businesses
everyday. This event is open to the public and you must RSVP
to attend. Anyone wishing to attend in person, please contact
Katherine Stanley, no later than Friday, September 8, 2006,
by e-mail Katherine.Stanley@sba.gov or telephone (202) 205-3850.
September 15, 2006
Florida Summit on Affordable Living: Attainable Housing
Tampa Convention Center
NOTE – Employ Florida is a key sponsor of this
event. The Florida Chamber Foundation is convening a state-wide
discussion of top policy and agency leaders, economic experts,
and housing professionals to help our regions and business
leaders engage in tackling Florida's attainable housing crisis.
In this six-hour summit, leaders will examine a portfolio of
solutions at the local, regional and state levels. The event
$69 registration fee is tax deductible. Proceeds will help
the Florida Chamber Foundation to address and manage it's commitment
issues related to Affordable Living in Florida and economic
research. For more information and to register go to: http://www.floridaaffordableliving.com/.
October 12-13, 2006
2006 National Transitional Jobs Network Conference: Strengthening
Communities - Building the Workforce of the Future - Transitional
Jobs Work
Atlanta, Georgia
Join program administrators, policy advocates, government
officials, and funders to discuss how to design, implement,
evaluate and advocate for Transitional Jobs programs to meet
the needs of hard- to- employ populations across the country.
The conference will spotlight TJ programs working with ex-offenders,
welfare recipients, youth, and other hard-to-employ populations.
Conference participants will have the opportunity to customize
their conference experience through the selection of breakout
sessions and visit a Transitional Jobs program in Atlanta,
GA. Conference speakers will include Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner
of the Georgia Department of Labor; Dennis Schrantz, Director
of Policy and Planning for the Michigan Department of Corrections;
Shirley Franklin, Mayor of Atlanta; and Mason Bishop, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration
in the U.S. Department of Labor. For more information go to:
http://www.transitionaljobs.net/Events/Events.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.
December 2 – 5, 2006
2006 National Workforce Association’s 5th Annual Conference
St. Petersburg, FL
The 2006 NWA Conference is a tremendous opportunity for
Workforce Development and Human Service stakeholders to address
the vast range of issues that will shape the direction of workforce
development and human services programs in our country for
years to come. It will focus on the important themes which
dominate the key discussions in our national capitol, state
capitols and our local communities.
* Nationally recognized policy makers will detail the transient
nature of the reauthorization process and the potential impacts
on state and local areas.
* Local workforce directors and human services administrators
from all over the country will share promising practices designed
to assist you in coordinating your local activities in the
context of the new consolidated Workforce System.
* Senior congressional staff will provide an insiders view
of the congressional budget process and the finer points of
the appropriations process.
* Learn about the new performance measures that have been proposed
by the Department of Labor
* Hear from prominent national politicians about what to expect
in the 110th Congress and the 2006 mid-term election results.
And finally get first hand information from a leader in the
United Sates Senate about their views of the congressional
budget process and the funding challenges facing many domestic
programs. For registration go to:
http://www.nwaonline.org/siteassets/documents/20061stFlyer.pdf.
December 4-7, 2006
2006 National Youth Development Symposium
ENGAGE, EDUCATE, EMPLOY - YOUTH!
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Suites - Chicago, IL
The Presenter Call for Proposal has been issued. The
goal of the 7th Annual National Youth Development Symposium is
to
provide best practices and program guidance to workforce development
professionals who serve youth. Our intent is to provide support
for those dedicated individuals working to be a strong foundation
for youth and to provide them with the necessary tools to enter
the workforce as productive adults.
Workshop topical areas include:
•
Engaging youth with their future, young men with their communities,
hardest-to-serve youth with programs that can help them, and
adult youth workers with the youth they serve.
•
Educating youth in ways that meet the new demands of the 21st
Century workplace - technology, teamwork, literacy & numeracy,
online learning, career academies and alternative education,
internships, online learning.
•
Employing youth in good jobs with opportunities to learn and
advance by satisfying the business needs of employers.
The Symposium experience will also offer attendees the opportunity
to browse through an Exhibit Area offering additional resources
and contacts that may be valuable to serving youth.
Pre-symposuim sessions will be held Monday afternoon, December
4th and Tuesday morning, December 5th. Full Symposium starts
at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, December 5th. Workshops will be announced
September 15th. For more information go to: http://www.theeventconn.com/events/conf.php?get=info&eid=18.
Odds and Ends
New Online Resources for Teen Business Start-Up Launched
by SBA and JA Worldwide.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration today
announced the launch of new online resources for young entrepreneurs
at the Mind Your Own Business teen Web site www.mindyourownbiz.org,
to help young entrepreneurs succeed in the world of business.
The SBA and JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) have teamed
up to develop three new Mind Your Own Business resources:
a student activities guide, a volunteer guide, and an assessment
tool -- Start it, Grow it, Own it! -- that serves as a companion
tool to the student activities and volunteer guides. Each
of these resources is available at the www.mindyourownbiz.org Web site, and is cosponsored by JA Worldwide. Entitled Make
It Your Business, the student activities guide includes an
interest inventory and group activities designed to teach
teens the fundamentals of business ownership. The Make It
Your Business volunteer guide instructs group leaders through
student business sessions that can be implemented in the
classroom, in student clubs or in an after-school setting.
The SBA and JA Worldwide introduced the Mind Your Own Business
teen Web site to provide support to the growing interest
in entrepreneurship among teens, and to serve as a small
business portal for youth entrepreneurs. he Mind Your Own
Business Web site introduces five easy-to-navigate steps
on business ownership for the entrepreneurial-minded teen,
each with helpful information for young entrepreneurs who
want to start, run or grow their own businesses.
Quote for the Week:
“If
all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach
a conclusion.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
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