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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 2-02-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsGovernor issues Executive Order 07-21, regarding the declaration of a State of Emergency for Lake, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties because of this hazardous weather system (and possible tornadic activity). If you have any questions or need additional information, please call the Governor’s press office at (850) 488-5394. Agency For Workforce Innovation Director Monesia Brown Announces Senior Management Team. 1/26/07 TALLAHASSEE—Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation is pleased to announce five new members of the senior management team at the agency. “I am fortunate to have found an experienced and highly capable staff at the Agency for Workforce Innovation who have served the citizens of Florida well through some very challenging times,” said Director Brown. “I intend to strengthen that base of experience and build an organizational structure that will ensure the highest levels of accountability in our service to Floridians. I also want to make certain that the agency is effectively reaching out to the citizens of our great state and connecting them with our many critical services.” The agency welcomes the following newly appointed individuals:
The Agency for Workforce Innovation is the lead state workforce agency. 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. AWI directly administers Early Learning, Unemployment Compensation and Labor Market Statistics programs along with various workforce development programs. Department Of Community Affairs Awards $700,000 For Marianna Economic Development Project. TALLAHASSEE – (1/19/07) Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham announced that the agency has awarded $700,000 to the City of Marianna to help bring a manufacturing center to the city. The funds, provided through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, will be used to develop infrastructure needed for a manhole cover manufacturing center and help bring an estimated 110 jobs to the area. The majority of the new jobs will go to low- or moderate-income residents. The $700,000 grant, awarded through a competitive application process, is close to the largest such award allowed by Florida law. "These funds will play an important role in improving the quality of life for those who live and work in Marianna," Pelham said. "We commend the city for investing in economic improvements that will bring new promise to the community." Oldcastle Precast, Inc., partnered with the City of Marianna to bring the manufacturing plant to the area. The CDBG grant made it possible for the plant to be located in Marianna by providing funds needed to extend water, wastewater and natural gas facilities to the plant site. The city will benefit from the grant through increased employment, greater economic activity through the new jobs, and the manufacturing plant's impact on the local tax base. The CDBG program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is administered by DCA's Division of Housing and Community Development. The program provides dollars to small local governments for projects that include housing, neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization and economic development initiatives. DCA assists Florida's communities in meeting the challenges of growth, reducing effects of disasters and investing in the community. For more information regarding the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the CDBG program, please visit www.dca.state.fl.us. New Work Experience Program Offered At No Cost To Treasure Coast Area Employers. Through a grant from the Department of Labor, local manufacturing companies may be eligible to host high school students in a three week summer work experience that requires no cost from the employer. The Choice Grant creates partnerships between the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, the St. Lucie County School District, Indian River Community College and Arbor Employment & Training to enhance the Manufacturing/Pre-Engineering Academy at the Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie. The Manufacturing Academy is a new program in a new school and will train the future manufacturing/engineering workforce in a laboratory setting using practical experience with the tools and materials appropriate to the industry. Students in the academy complete a sequence of courses that lead to Gold Seal Scholarship eligibility and articulated credit at Indian River Community College. Advanced students have the opportunity to earn certification as a Manufacturing Production Technician through the nationally recognized Manufacturing Skills Standards Council. The DOL grant supports a Summer Manufacturing Institute in which selected students have the opportunity to learn and earn! Students will earn a salary while participating in a work experience with local manufacturing companies during their summer vacation. Participating manufacturing employers have the opportunity to work with the student interns and influence their future workforce. In June and July 2007, 30 Manufacturing Academy students will attend a three week work readiness program at IRCC that teaches them the skills employers require. At the conclusion of the training, students are placed with business partners for three weeks of work experience inside a manufacturing environment. Students blend their classroom learning with the real world of work and they get PAID! The funds to pay the students are supplied by the grant so there is no cost to employers to participate in the work experience creating a win-win situation for students and business alike! The only requirement is the commitment of the business to mentor students in the workplace and provide meaningful work. The Summer Manufacturing Institute is currently seeking additional businesses to serve as work site locations. Businesses interested in sponsoring a manufacturing student for a three week work experience, should contact Diana Rew at the Workforce Development Board at 772-335-3030 X *839 or at drew@tcjobs.org. Local Program Offers Suncoast Area Employees Assistance. The Suncoast Workforce Board is one of only two regions in the State to offer the Passport to Economic Progress program. Passport has helped individuals struggling to make ends meet, those who want to improve their skills, needed one-on-one encouragement and financial assistance. Share the news about Passport to Economic Progress--a local workforce development program designed for working individuals with the desire to achieve personal, educational or employment goals. Any parent or guardian who resides in Manatee or Sarasota county with a dependent child under 19 years of age and who is working a minimum of 32 hours per week may be eligible for the individualized services. Here are just of few of the many positive comments received from program participants: “I have acquired many new things. From methods for taking tests, how to deal with people who may not have the same personality or thinking style, cooking healthy foods on a budget…” – Angela R. “The computer classes have helped me improve my skills in many different areas…It convinced me that I wasn’t too old to get back into school…I’ve been enrolled at Manatee Community College since August, 2006.” – Patricia L. “Thanks to the typing class provided by Passport, my typing speed increased! That helped out a great deal with my workflow.” – Angela W. Help spread the word by providing an informational flyer where you think employees will notice (i.e. lunch or break room or even include it with their paycheck). Download the flyer at: http://www.swdb.org/documents/Employee_Flyer_Final_1-31-07.pdf. For more information, employers may contact Bernadine Hines at (941) 358-4200, 137 or by email at BHines@swdb.org. The NationHouse Approves Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations Bill. The House approved (286-140) on January 31 its fiscal year 2007 appropriations bill to fund federal government operations for the remainder of the fiscal year through September 30, 2007. The bill would fund workforce programs including the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Unemployment Insurance (UI), Employment Services (ES), One-Stop/Labor Market Information (LMI) and Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS). The bill is expected to be considered and approved by the Senate the week of February 8. Most programs under the bill including WIA and ES would be funded at their fiscal year 2006 levels, a victory for the workforce system considering bills approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees during the 109th Congress had proposed significant reductions, including a $325 million rescission to WIA programs. It appears the most significant reduction included in the bill is to the One-Stop/LMI program, which would receive approximately $64 million under the bill, or about $18 million less than was appropriated in fiscal year 2006. The $64 million amount is the level approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last Congress; the House Appropriations Committee had proposed a $42 million cut. In addition to establishing funding levels for the remainder of fiscal year 2007, the appropriations bill includes language (page 56) that would restrict any funding under the bill be available to "finalize or implement any proposed regulation under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, or the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 until such time as legislation reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 is enacted." This language appears to be a direct rebuke of the effort undertaken by the U.S. Department of Labor to effect workforce system policy through the regulatory process begun on December 20, 2006 via the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Many Senators have expressed concern with the USDOL effort to alter policy in advance of the approval of authorizing legislation - Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Murray (D-WA) sent a recent letter to Senate Appropriators requesting language restricting future USDOL regulatory effort in the spending bill. This letter is available on the Workforce ATM. Also included in the spending bill is language that appears to ease the transfer of federal equity in state employment security real property to the states. According to the provision (page 60), "the portion of any real property that is attributable to the Federal equity transferred under this section shall be used to carry out activities authorized under this Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, or title III of the Social Security Act." The House is expected to approve this legislation before the end of the week and the Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of the bill next week. NASWA is continuing to investigate its content and will provide additional information in the February 2 edition of Bulletin. Please contact Curt Harris, NASWA Congressional Affairs Director at 202.434.8023 with questions/comments.
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao to Hold News Conference February 5 on Department of Labor's FY 2008 Budget. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will hold a news conference 2:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, to unveil the U.S. Department of Labor's fiscal year 2008 budget. The news conference will be held in the Secretary's Conference Room in the Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W. U.S. Labor Department (DOL) releases are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov. SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor. White House Releases Statement Opposing House Restrictions on WIA/ES Regulations. The Statement of Administration Policy expresses strong opposition to language included in the House appropriations bill (H.J. Res. 20) that would prevent the USDOL from moving forward on its proposed WIA/ES regulatory changes. The Administration's statement on the regulations is found on page 4 of the complete document located at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/hjr20sap-r.pdf. U.S. Economy: Consumer Confidence Approaches Five-Year
High. Confidence among U.S. consumers approached a five-year
high
in January as an expanding labor market and rising wages gave
Americans more money to spend. See the complete article at: Former ULI Chairman J. Ronald Terwilliger Provides $5 Million to Fund ULI Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing. 'Those Who Serve Their Communities Should be Embraced by Their Communities.' WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- J. Ronald Terwilliger, former chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), has committed $5 million to the creation of the ULI Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing, ULI announced today. The center will address one of the most critical issues facing urban areas across the country by supporting the development of housing affordable to moderate-income workers, including teachers, nurses, firefighters, government workers, and police officers. The gift from Terwilliger is the largest individual contribution ever made to the Institute. Terwilliger, chairman and chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Trammell Crow Residential, is one of the nation's most successful residential real estate developers and an acclaimed housing expert. For years, Terwilliger has been a leading advocate for affordable housing. With people increasingly shut out of decent housing close to their jobs, the need for a center devoted to workforce housing is more important than ever, he said. Although some markets have recently experienced home price declines, "Housing that is close to jobs will stay out of reach for many people who work in our communities," Terwilliger said. "As a result, working families who are neither very low-income nor high-income are being pushed farther and farther away from employment centers, adding to traffic congestion and sprawl. It's hard on these families, and its inefficient growth. We are aiming to turn this situation around. Our ultimate goal is to achieve a measurable increase in mixed-income workforce housing in communities across the nation." Plans call for the ULI Terwilliger Center to be based in Washington, D.C., from where its staff members will work with ULI district councils, housing- related organizations, and various public- and private-sector representatives in several urban areas to create models of mixed-income workforce housing design, development and financing that can be applied to other cities. Initially, the center will focus on three markets -- Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Southeast Florida. In each, the center will develop a plan to increase the production of mixed-income housing over a specified time period; to expand available project financing where necessary; and to support developers in completing projects. The goal is to produce at least 3,500 units of new workforce housing in the three markets within five years. For the complete article go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/usnewswire/ and look for the article title in the February 1, 2007 releases. Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:(none) State GrantsVictims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funds Federal GrantsCapacity Expansion Grants for Jail Diversion Program Small Business Transportation Resource Centers (SBTRC) Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program National Community-Based Lead Outreach and Training Grant Program Credit Enhancement Charter School Facilities Program Voluntary Public School Choice Program (VPSC) Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers SSA Early Identification and Intervention Demonstration Foundation GrantsMental Illness Awareness and Education Effort Grant Scholarships/Awards2007 Civic Change Award 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. February 21, 2007 February 22, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
February 8-9, 2007 February 14, 2007 Feb. 26-27, 2007 February 28 - March 2, 2007 March 5-7, 2007 March 13, 2007 April 2nd-5th, 2007 May 29-30, 2007 May 30, 31 & June 1, 2007 June 23-26, 2007 Odds and EndsThe Earned Income Tax Credit (from the IRS Tax Tips 2/01/07). The EITC is for people who work, but have lower incomes. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $4,500 this year. So you could pay less federal tax or even get a refund. That’s money you can use to make a difference in your life. Did you know that in Tax Year 2005, over 22 million taxpayers received $41.4 billion dollars in EITC – making the credit a great investment in the lives of those who claim it? However, the IRS estimates 20 to 25% percent of people who qualify for the credit do not claim it. At the same time, there are millions of Americans who have claimed the credit in error, many of whom simply don’t understand the criteria. This year, it’s even easier to determine whether you qualify for the EITC. The EITC Assistant, an interactive tool available on IRS.gov, removes the guesswork from eligibility rules. Just answer a few simple questions about yourself, your children, your living situation and your income to find out if you qualify and to estimate the amount of your EITC. You will see the results of your responses right away. The EITC is based on the amount of your earned income and whether or not there are qualifying children in your household. If you have children, they must meet the relationship, age and residency requirements. Additionally, you must file a tax return to claim the credit. If you were employed for at least part of 2006, you may be eligible for the EITC based on these general requirements:
You cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (related to foreign earn income). Members of the military can elect to include their nontaxable combat pay in earned income for the earned income credit. If you make the election, you must include in earned income all nontaxable combat pay you received. If you are filing a joint return and both you and your spouse received nontaxable combat pay, then each of you can make your own election. The amount of your nontaxable combat pay should be shown on your Form W-2 in box 12 with code Q. For more information about the EITC, go to IRS.gov or see Publication 596, Earned Income Credit, which contains eligibility criteria and instructions for claiming the tax credit. Copies of the publication are available in English and Spanish and can be found on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Free help and tax preparation is available at our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites or contact your tax preparer for more details. For more online EITC information and links, including the EITC Assistant and a Public Service Announcement, go to: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html. Regional Economic Development QSAP – a tool to help integrate workforce and economic development activities (from Workforce3 One January 2007 Newsletter). The previous Workforce3 One newsletter announced the arrival of the Regional Development Quick Start Action Planner (QSAP), an online self-assessment tool for regional leaders and stakeholders. This tool provides strategies for building a collaborative, regionally-based planning system to help integrate the activities of workforce and economic development. At the end of the self-assessment, users receive a detailed report with direct links to online tools, information, and resources to help develop and action plan and implement a process for regional asset alignment and economic transformation. All responses are strictly confidential, and results are not stored or tracked. To access this tool you must register at the Workforce3 One website located at: http://www.workforce3one.org/. Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents - 2006 Edition. The 2006 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents is available on-line in portable document format (PDF) and as a series of Web pages at http://www.va.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.asp. The booklet provides the rates for certain federal payments and outlines many programs and services provided by VA and other federal agencies. It also includes toll-free phone numbers, Internet addresses and a directory of VA facilities throughout the country. The 2007 edition will be available in April 2007. From SOUTHERN COMPASS -- JANUARY 30, 2007.
The Business Press Is a Watchdog that Bites (from HBS Working Knowledge Newsletter 1/29/07). When financial fraud is at stake, the press is a watchdog that bites more often than we think, says HBS professor Gregory S. Miller, an expert in financial communication. Many times, the press is on the case long before analysts or even the SEC. In this Q&A he describes what he learned and what managers should keep in mind. http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5591.html. Quote for the Week:“Change has
a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. King Whitney Jr. |
