 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Workforce Florida Weekly Update 9-07-06 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsUS Department of Justice Prisoner Reentry Grant comes to Broward County partnership. The FDC (Florida Department of Corrections,) in partnership with Opportunities Industrialization Center of Broward County, Inc. (OIC) and other key community agencies, was awarded $450,000 from the US Department of Justice Prisoner Reentry Grant program for a pilot project to implement a comprehensive model for non-violent prisoner reentry to communities in Broward County, Florida. This initiative will reduce recidivism by identifying individual offender needs, providing targeted services and coordinating intense pre-release and post-release services that will assist offenders with their transition from prison to the community. This program will focus on pre-release planning and services that are individualized and comprehensive. The pre-release services will begin with individual needs assessments then focus the delivery of reentry services based on identified needs. These services include:
OIC in Broward, had earlier won a related grant from US Department
of Labor to link released ex-offenders to local workforce
services, job training and job placement in partnership with
Workforce One, the local Regional Workforce Board and its
One-Stop network. That activity is already under way. Next
we are expecting HUD, the federal Housing and Urban Development
agency to solicit grant proposals to provide housing assistance
to the same population of ex-offenders in Broward county.
This is a rare but commendable instance where 3 federal agencies
planned their grant solicitations together to provide comprehensive
workforce, transition preparation and housing assistance
concentrated on a committed, well partnered community. The
Broward partnership is one of very few nation-wide to have
won the first 2 components and is now well positioned to
compete for the final piece. For more information please
contact Newton Sanon via email at: nsanon@wf1broward.com. Florida reBuilds statewide marketing campaign launches: Training and hiring program established to fill vacancies in construction trades. Florida reBuilds will formally launch its 2006 marketing campaign on Friday, September 8, with press conferences in Miami, Tampa and Orlando. Lt. Governor Jennings, Linda South, and regional workforce board and industry representatives will be attending each of these events. Increased demand on the construction industry due to hurricane repairs and the relocation of skilled workers to other states to assist with their rebuilding efforts has created a critical deficit in the number of workers available to meet the demand on Florida’s growing industry. Florida reBuilds is a training program established by the State of Florida to counter the shortage of more than 13,000 skilled construction workers by offering free training and job placement in more than 40 construction trades, including roofing, masonry, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), electricity and heavy equipment operations. Training programs last from two to eight weeks depending on the trade. Locally, Florida reBuilds will work with the area Employ Florida affiliate, to train and match job seekers with construction trade vacancies. For more information and to locate Employ Florida affiliates throughout the state visit: www.EmployFlorida.com. Powerful job creation and workforce services recognized statewide. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush today released a proclamation declaring the week of September 4-8, 2006 to be “Workforce Development Week in Florida,” recognizing the important contribution that Florida’s workforce development system makes toward Florida’s dynamic economy. For nearly four years, Florida has lead the nation in job growth, even as the state has been challenged by the impacts of terrorism attacks and successive damaging hurricane seasons. “An important component of fulfilling Governor Bush’s commitment to diversifying Florida’s economy is having a workforce system that can respond quickly to changing economic conditions,” said Linda H. South, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “Our workforce system in Florida has played a critical role in expanding our economy and helping our state and our neighboring states recover from damaging hurricanes. Working together as the Employ Florida network, the system provides a critical linkage between the needs of our business community and the abilities of Florida’s skilled workforce.” Florida’s workforce system is known collectively as Employ Florida and is a unique partnership of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Workforce Florida Inc., 24 Regional Workforce Boards and their nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers around the state. The Employ Florida network supports Florida as a national leader in quality job creation. 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. The Employ Florida website - www.employflorida.com - provides powerful online tools designed to assist job seekers or students in searching for the right job, and helps employers who are looking for the best job candidates. The site serves as a hub for the state’s workforce services while focusing on job openings and job candidates. The site is also a valuable resource for policy makers, researchers, and others seeking to explore and analyze local labor markets in Florida. Current data available on the Employ Florida website includes a strategic mix of job openings, career exploration, employer information, education, and labor market research information. There are over 7,000 unique visitors on the Employ Florida website each day. The Agency for Workforce Innovation is the lead state workforce agency and directly administers the state’s Labor Market Statistics program, Unemployment Compensation, Early Learning and various workforce development programs. The Office of Early Learning, a division within the agency, provides oversight of Florida’s school readiness programs and is the lead entity for implementing the state’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program. Workforce Florida, Inc. (WFI) is the state's chief workforce policy organization. WFI is a state partner, along with the Agency for Workforce Innovation, in the Employ Florida affiliate network of 24 business-led regional workforce boards and nearly 100 one-stop centers that provide employment solutions throughout Florida. Learn more about Florida’s workforce resources and solutions at www.EmployFlorida.com. Florida’s Labor Day job picture shows strong growth and worker confidence. TALLAHASSEE— Very low levels of unemployment, strong job growth and high worker confidence about their jobs is the good news for Florida this Labor Day. A Labor Day 2006 snapshot of the job market in Florida released by Linda H. South, Director of Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation, shows that Florida’s workforce is brimming with confidence and showing strong signs of employment growth. Florida’s employment and unemployment report for July 2006 showed the state’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent, nearly a historical low and well below the national unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. At the same time, Florida remains the job creation leader for the nation, leading all states in the number of jobs created over the past year and ahead of the 10 most populous states in the rate of growth. Out of a civilian labor force of 8.9 million, there were only 292,000 unemployed Floridians. The Labor Day 2006 snapshot shows that Florida has seen steady growth not just in the number of new jobs but also in the quality of those jobs. Professional and business services and construction industries accounted for 46 percent of the new jobs in the state over the year. Both sectors have above-average paying jobs. “These findings illustrate the resilience of Florida’s economy and also show that employment opportunities in Florida are at an all-time high,” South said. “Floridians continue to reap the benefits of a productive job market and competitive business climate.” The most recent monthly survey by the workforce firm Hudson adds to the positive outlook for Florida’s economy. The Hudson Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market notes that worker confidence in Florida has improved by 4.4 points, to 122.3, the second-highest reading in the nation. The Hudson Index tracks trends in career opportunities, hiring intentions, job satisfaction and retention. A drop in expected lay-offs coupled with increased optimism about personal finances, the report notes, spurred the rise in Florida’s worker confidence level. The state’s 122.3 confidence level rating is well above last year’s August rating of 110.9 and significantly higher than the national rate of 102.9. The Hudson Employment Index tracks worker sentiment in eight states. Florida’s Index (122.3) came in among the strongest, topped only by Texas (126.5). New York fell to the lowest with 88.8. Among the nation’s 11 largest cities, Tampa ranked third in worker confidence. For the second consecutive month, confidence increased in Tampa, gaining 2.3 points to register 121 in August. With energy and housing prices coming down from high levels, concerns about inflation have naturally surfaced. Despite higher inflation in 2004 and 2005, average earnings of Florida’s workers stayed ahead of inflation between 1999 and 2005. Average real earnings grew by 9.4 percent from 1999 to 2005 according to AWI’s Labor Market Statistics. Real earnings (adjusted for inflation) increased by slightly over 1.5 percent each year between 1999 and 2005. The highest annual changes in real earnings were in 2002 (+1.8 percent) and 2004 (+2.4 percent), with the lowest annual change in 2005 (+0.8 percent). The continued growth of higher income jobs in construction, professional and business services, and other industries helped keep Florida’s wage and salary worker’s incomes ahead of the inflation rate from 1999-2005. The U.S. Census Bureau also released data this week showing that inflation-adjusted real family income in Florida increased by 2% in the two-year period between 2003 and 2005. The Agency for Workforce Innovation is the lead state workforce agency and directly administers the state’s Labor Market Statistics program, Unemployment Compensation, Early Learning and various workforce development programs. The Office of Early Learning, a division within the agency, provides oversight of Florida’s school readiness programs and is the lead entity for implementing the state’s successful Voluntary Prekindergarten program. Workforce development policy and guidance in Florida is provided by Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Florida and the Agency for Workforce Innovation are partners in the Employ Florida network which includes 24 Regional Workforce Boards who deliver services through nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers around the state. The Employ Florida website and the Employ Florida Marketplace
continue to attract more traffic and more registered users.
Governor Bush promotes jobs for persons with disabilities. JACKSONVILLE – Governor Jeb Bush, joined by Senator
Stephen R. Wise, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, Jacksonville
City Council President Michael Corrigan, Greater Jacksonville
Chamber of Commerce Chair Edward Burr, Director of the Florida
Agency for Persons with Disabilities Shelly Brantley and
members of the First Coast Business Leadership Network, last
week launched a campaign to encourage employers to recruit
and hire qualified individuals with disabilities. “Florida’s
growing economy and job market should be open to the largest
minority group in our state – persons with disabilities,” said
Governor Bush. “By fostering employment opportunities,
we can empower persons with disabilities to live the American
dream. Individuals can become active in their communities,
and employers benefit from hiring qualified and hardworking
employees.” Governor Bush applauds College Board’s new ‘EXCELerator’ program. JACKSONVILLE – Governor Jeb Bush last week applauded
the College Board’s national education reform efforts
to ensure more students graduate from high school ready for
college and the workforce. The College Board announced today
that Duval County was selected as one of the first school
districts in the nation to participate in the innovative “EXCELerator” Schools
program. Through a $16 million investment from the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, the College Board will complement its promising
school development efforts in New York with the new program
in 11 high schools in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Duval
County. “The ‘EXCELerator’ program will
serve as a tremendous asset to prepare high school students
for the challenges of college and the workforce. I applaud
the College Board and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
for their commitment to important education reforms,” said
Governor Bush. “This pilot program builds on the cutting-edge
reforms in Florida's A++ Plan for Education and will help
make more rigorous curriculums a reality for future generations
of Florida students.” Four Duval County schools have
been selected to participate, including Samuel Wolfson, Terry
Parker, Sandalwood and Robert E. Lee High Schools. These
schools are granted access to a wide range of College Board
tools as well as project management strategies designed to
raise standards and enrich students’ academic experiences. “We
are extremely excited about the launch of the ‘EXCELerator’ program,” said
College Board President Gaston Caperton. “We anticipate
reaching thousands of students in urban districts with a
program that is designed to prepare them for advanced courses
and fortify them with the skills they need to succeed in
college.” Lockheed Martin will create new high-tech jobs in Florida. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush last week congratulated Lockheed Martin for its selection by National Aeronautics and Space Administration to design and build the agency’s next-generation human space flight crew transportation system known as Orion, with an initial contract value of approximately $4 billion. Final assembly, checkout and acceptance testing of Orion for both the Crew Module and Service Module will be performed in the Operations and Checkout facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. "Today’s announcement by NASA is the start of another great chapter in Florida’s more than 50 year history as a leader in our nation’s space program," said Governor Bush. "Recognizing our state’s robust space industry and skilled workforce, Lockheed Martin’s choice of Florida as its sight for crew and service module assembly and refurbishment will create excellent jobs for our citizens. A longtime good corporate citizen of Florida, I wish Lockheed Martin and its new Orion team much continued success from their base here in the Sunshine State.” In partnership with NASA, Lockheed Martin will serve as prime contractor and will lead a world-class industry team that includes Honeywell, Orbital Sciences Corporation, United Space Alliance and Hamilton Sundstrand, supporting NASA in the design, test, build, integration and operational capability of Orion. "We are honored by the trust that NASA has placed in the Lockheed Martin team for this historic and vital step forward in human space exploration," said Bob Stevens, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. "Our entire team is fully committed to supporting NASA as we join together to help make the vision for space exploration a reality." Orion, an advanced crew capsule design utilizing state-of-the-art technology, is a key element of NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration, and will succeed the Space Shuttle in transporting a new generation of human explorers to and from the International Space Station, the Moon, and eventually to Mars and beyond. Orion will transport up to six crew members to and from the International Space Station and up to four crew members on lunar missions. The new crew vehicle is designed to be an order of magnitude safer, more reliable, more affordable and more operationally efficient than previous human space flight systems. Today, space-related activities are found in every county of the state for an economic impact of more than $4.5 billion. More than 200 space companies employing tens of thousands of Floridians are located in the state. www.myflorida.com. The NationGlobal unemployment rate at 6.3% with U.S. unemployment rate at 5.1%. The number of people employed rose 16 percent between 1995 and 2005 adding 400 million new jobs to the world economy. According to the Progressive Policy Institute’s Trade Fact of the Week, population growth slightly outpaced job growth increasing the international unemployment rate by five percent. Global unemployment now hovers around 6.3 percent with the Middle East experiencing the highest levels of unemployment at 13.2 percent and East Asia experiencing the lowest levels at 3.8 percent. Unemployment rates in the U.S. fall below the international average at 5.1 percent. For more information on how the American economy compares visit: http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=108&subsecID=900003&contentID=254026 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week released the following letter report: National Emergency Grants: Labor Has Improved Its Grant Award Timeliness and Data Collection, but Further Steps Can Improve Process. For the full report: GAO-06-870, September 5, go to: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-870. For highlights visit: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06870high.pdf. Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:(none) State Grants(none) Federal Grants(none) Foundation Grants(None) Scholarships/Awards(none) Upcoming Meetings, Conferences and
Events
Workforce Florida Board and Related Meetings Schedule:For up-to-date WFI board meeting info please check the calendar at the WFI website. September 20, 2006 October 18, 2006 November 29, 2006 November 30, 2006 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
September 12, 2006 September 13, 2006 September 15, 2006 September 17 - 20, 2006 October 12-13, 2006 November 6-9, 2006 Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2006 December 2 – 5, 2006 December 4-7, 2006 Odds and EndsThe FloridaHousingSearch.org website sponsored by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation is live. The FloridaHousingSearch.org website was developed with support from a number of nonprofit and government organizations in Florida. This service currently provides detailed information on affordable rental housing that has been financed by Florida Housing Finance Corporation and/or counties choosing to particpate in the service. Our goal is to make this locator service the primary source for affordable rental housing in Florida. Over time, we hope this service will grow to include all subsidized and affordable rental housing throughout the state of Florida. The site currently allows for the listing of affordable rentals in Florida Housing funded developments in all counties. The housing locator service allows people to locate available housing that best fits their individual and family needs. The service can be accessed online 24 hours a day and is supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center M-F, 9-6 EST. Individuals can easily search for housing using a wide variety of search criteria with special mapping features and receive apartment listings that provide a multitude of important information about each unit. In addition, the site connects people to other housing resources through website links and provides helpful tools for renters such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and renter rights and responsibilities information. The site uses software created by Socialserve.com, a national non-profit provider of housing locator services. Socialserve.com is responsible for maintaining the site and providing toll-free call center support. For additional information, contact Socialserve.com at 1-877-428-8844 or info@socialserve.com. Dynamic Works and the National Association of Workforce Boards announce new online course for Workforce Investment Board Members. "WIB Members In Action: Making an Impact on the Community" is online training designed to help Board Members gain a better understanding of the workforce development system, the Board's role in the community and how the input of individual members can help to make the Board more effective. The course includes six modules:
For more information, visit http://www.dynamicinstitute.com or
contact Lynn Hatfield, Dynamic Works Institute, at email: lhatfield@dynamicinstitute.com or
phone: 321-205-1577. Regional Innovation Systems article: Implications for Nonmetropolitan Areas and Workers in the South. This article identifies three types of regional innovation systems (RIS) in the thirteen southern states based on a cluster analysis of twenty indicators of innovative and entrepreneurial activity. Its findings indicate that nonmetro counties near an RIS experienced more rapid population and employment growth; however, changes in nonmetro growth rates varied by type of RIS. In addition, proximity to an RIS had a stronger impact on nonmetro population change than on nonmetro job growth. This article is available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2257.2006.00318.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=grow. Note that an online subscription or single article purchase is required to access this article. More than 4,400 reports are currently available from the full TBED Resource Center, a cooperative project of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy and SSTI, which is accessible at: http://www.tbedresourcecenter.org/. Youth—The Emerging Workforce: Take Time To Connect (from Suncoast Workforce Board’s (SWB) Sept. 4, 2006 Developments Newsletter). Research by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs. Hectic work schedules, after-school activities and time with school friends often interfere with the opportunity for families to spend time together. Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children, created by CASA in 2001, is a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce substance abuse among children and teens. Family Day promotes regular family activities to encourage parent-child communication, reminds us all of the value of parental engagement and encourages parents to make family dinners a regular feature of their lives. Family Day is celebrated on the fourth Monday in September, the 25th in 2006. According to Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, family dinners become even more important in later teenage years. “The frequency of family dinners decreases significantly as children grow older – and that’s just when the benefits of family dinners and parental engagement are needed the most. Teen risk of substance abuse increases sevenfold between the ages of 12 and 17,” noted Califano. “It is vital that frequent family dinners become a permanent fixture for teenagers, especially as they get older,” said Califano. The Suncoast Workforce Board is promoting Family Day in conjunction with the 21st Century Workforce Study recommendation to reduce dropout rates and raise graduations rates in Suncoast schools. Employers need a healthy, productive workforce and today’s youth are that future workforce. Please take the opportunity to share this information with family and friends and promote Family Day to your employees. For additional information visit: www.floridafamilyday.com. Quote for the Week:“Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.” Henri F. Amiel, Swiss writer (1821-1881) |
