CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
State Awards Grants for Renewable Energy Technologies
~ Grants will encourage investment in renewable technologies
and bioenergy projects. TALLAHASSEE – Lt. Governor
Jeff Kottkamp today joined Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
Chares H. Bronson and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole to announce the
recipients of Florida’s renewable energy technologies
grants. “The grant program creates a receptive, inspiring
environment for research,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. “Investments
in cutting-edge ventures ensure a stronger economy and a
cleaner environment for the next generation of Floridians.” Through
the 2006 Florida Energy Act, the Florida Legislature appropriated
$15 million for renewable energy technologies grants to stimulate
capital investment in the state and promote and enhance the
statewide utilization of renewable energy technologies, including
ethanol and bioenergy. The funding was awarded to eight organizations
with at least $5 million to support bioenergy projects and
$10 million for projects that generate or utilize other renewable
energy resources, including hydrogen, biomass and solar energy. “This
is a major step forward in Florida’s effort to establish
a meaningful renewable energy industry,” Commissioner
Bronson said. “We hope to build on this first step
with the help and support of our industry, our colleagues
at DEP, the legislature and Governor Crist.” The Renewable
Energy Technologies Grant Program recipients for 2007 are
as follows:
- Citrus Energy LLC, “Fuel Ethanol Production from
Citrus Waste Biomass” ($2.5 million): Based in Clewiston,
the company will construct a four-million-gallon-per-year
ethanol bio-refinery to use citrus waste to produce ethanol.
This project will transform citrus waste, an abundant agricultural
residual, into a clean, affordable and locally-produced
biofuel.
- Alico Inc., “Commercial Ethanol Production
from Biomass” ($2.5
million): The project will use biomass products to co-produce
ethanol and electricity at a savings for consumers. The
facility will produce ethanol for blending with gasoline
at less than
one-third of the current national average retail cost of
gasoline, and can deliver “green” electricity
at a cost of five to eight cents per kilowatt hour.
- Losonoco
Inc., “Losonoco Mulberry Ethanol” ($2.5
million): Losonoco Inc. will purchase, refurbish, and operate
a shuttered fuel ethanol production facility in the City
of Mulberry in Polk County. Through the incorporation of
technology improvements and best operating practices developed
over the past decade, Losonoco intends to refurbish and
reopen the facility as a 12-million-gallon-per-year plant,
virtually
doubling its original capacity.
- University of Florida, “Renewable
Energy Fuels in a Micro-Grid Power Module” ($2,464,703):
The grant will be used to construct a small-scale demonstration
plant
using the University’s patented PoWER technology,
including operation on a variety of liquid and gaseous
biofuels. The
system allows ultra-clean, efficient operation on a wide
variety of biomass fuels, hydrogen or conventional fuels,
and this project will be installed at the University of
Florida Energy Research Park, connected to the grid by
Progress Energy,
and operated to determine its performance using biofuels.
- Florida Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation, “Getting
Down to Business: Transforming Florida’s Solar Marketplace” ($1,921,575):
The statewide initiative is designed to increase the use
of solar technologies as well as strengthen and stabilize
the solar-energy industry in Florida. By demonstrating
the use of appropriate solar technologies in the commercial
sector,
this project will increase awareness and participation
for Florida’s solar rebate program.
- Kore Consulting
Group, “Sky Renewable Energy with
Optimal Supply-and-Demand-Side Integration Demonstration” ($1,802,567):
The project will study and develop strategies to successfully
integrate renewable and sustainable energy technologies
with the quality-of-life and environmental goals of the
community.
Located in Calhoun County, the project will minimize energy
requirements and maximize renewable energy use to support
the community while maintaining the comforts and quality
of life expected by its residents.
- Florida International
University, “Assessment and
Development of Pretreatment for Sugarcane Bagasse to Commercialize
Cellulosic Ethanol Technology” ($990,532): The university
project will determine the technical feasibility of using
Florida sugarcane waste as a feedstock for a large-scale
ethanol industry in the state. The university will try
to identify a cost-effective pretreatment process to make
sugarcane
waste a viable feedstock for ethanol production.
- Florida
Biomass Energy Consortium, “Using High Efficiency
Biomass Gasification for Industrial Drying” ($320,623):
The proposal is to build and operate an integrated biomass
gasification system to replace natural-gas use with biogas
for an industrial user. This project will define and establish
both the technical and economic viability of using Florida’s
biomass resources for industrial drying processes that
currently use natural gas as the energy source.
“
The Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program encourages
organizations and companies to invest in alternative energy
technologies that can promote energy diversity, reduce pollution
and promote economic growth,” said DEP Secretary Michael
W. Sole. “We are excited to award these grants to eight
projects that are exploring new possibilities in renewable
energy technologies throughout the Florida.” The targeted
grant program is designed to advance the already growing
establishment of renewable energy technologies in the state,
including hydrogen, biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy,
wind energy, ocean energy, waste heat and hydroelectric power.
The eight grant recipients were selected from among 183 grant
proposals seeking nearly $215 million in grant funding and
providing more than $505 million in cost share for renewable
energy projects. Grant proposals were evaluated by the state
based on a number of different criterion, including cost
share percentage, economic development potential, energy
efficiency and how the project fosters public awareness of
renewable energy technologies. Grants were awarded at a maximum
of $2.5 million per project, and eligible applicants included
Florida municipalities and county governments, established
for-profit companies licensed to do business in Florida,
universities and colleges in the state, utilities located
and operating within Florida, not-for-profit organizations
and state agencies. The 2006 Florida Energy Act takes the
first comprehensive step toward a diverse, reliable and secure
energy future by reducing regulatory barriers to expedite
electric generation capacity and providing rebates, grants
and tax incentives to drive the development of alternative
fuel technologies. The four-year, $100 million plan will
diversify the state’s fuel supply, reduce Florida’s
dependence on imported oil, spur economic growth and promote
energy conservation and efficiency. Earlier this month,
Governor Crist recommended a record $68.25 million to encourage
investment
in alternative energy technologies, including $40 million
in alternative energy incentive funding, $15 million to
continue the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program,
$2.5 million
for the Solar Energy Rebate Program and almost $1 million
to promote energy efficiency. For more information about
the 2006 Florida Energy Act or the grant recipients, visit www.floridaenergy.org.
Governor Crist Plans a $1.3 Billion Increase in
Education Funding ~ Average per-student funding would increase
7.5
percent. MIAMI – Governor Charlie Crist today highlighted
his budget proposal of $33.4 billion for all phases of public
education. The budget includes a four-percent increase over
current funding and would increase average per-student funding
7.5 percent, double appropriations for rewarding teacher
performance, employ 400 additional reading coaches and provide
virtual tutors for all public school students. The proposed
budget continues to fund class-size reduction, maintains
current tuition costs for post-secondary students and fully
funds enrollment growth for state colleges and universities. “I
am committed to providing each student in Florida with a
world-class education, and my recommended budget is key to
reaching this goal,” said Governor Crist. “A
person’s education is the foundation for success, and
it must remain one of our highest priorities.” The
Everglades K-8 Center in Miami was selected for today’s
announcement because of its school-wide intervention program
that provides individualized reading instruction to struggling
readers. The school provides in-depth training to teachers
and staff to assist students during specialized reading lessons.
As a result, the school’s principal, Dr. Doylene Tarver,
faculty and parents have developed a supportive working relationship
that enables struggling students to succeed. “The Everglades
Center has limited resources compared to other schools, but
has successfully implemented this program,” said Governor
Crist. “Their example demonstrates that with determination
and creativity, we can make education in Florida the gold
standard.” Governor Crist visited the classrooms of
teachers Debra Earhart and Martha Ricardo, where reading
coaches Marisella Cebellos and Christina Torres guided reading
lessons with students. Details of today’s education
budget announcement include the following:
Teacher Bonuses
Governor Crist’s proposed budget includes $295 million
for a 10-percent salary bonus for the top-performing 25 percent
of educators, including teachers, librarians, principals
and guidance counselors. Principals would determine which
teachers would receive the bonuses based equally on performance
evaluation and student achievement. “We must continue
to recruit and retain the best and brightest to teach our
children, and we must pay them more,” said Governor
Crist. “Teacher performance bonuses provide incentive
for the best teachers to remain in the classroom.”
Reading Coaches
A recommended $26 million would provide an additional 400
reading coaches to help teachers more effectively improve
the reading skills of struggling students. Currently, Florida’s
2,100 reading coaches help educators learn the most comprehensive
and effective research-based practices for teaching reading. “Reading
is the most important skill needed for academic achievement,” said
Governor Crist. “This budget proposal would bring the
total number of reading coaches to 2,500 – placing
a coach in almost every public school.”
Virtual Tutors
Governor Crist proposes $10 million to provide Internet-based
academic assistance to all public school students. The Virtual
Tutors program would provide parents, teachers and administrators
with clear, concise information regarding student skill levels.
Virtual tutoring enables parents and teachers to track children’s
progress and identify skill areas where a child needs additional
help. “Parents are a child’s first, best and
most influential teachers,” Governor Crist said. “This
program will empower both teachers and parents to better
help children learn outside of school.” “Governor
Crist’s proposed budget will improve long-term student
achievement,” said Lt. Governor Kottkamp. “Our
focus must be on ensuring our children are prepared to take
part in the highly competitive global economy.”
Details of the Crist/Kottkamp recommended budget are available
by visiting “The People’s Budget” at www.thepeoplesbudget.state.fl.us.
Governor Crist Designates Enterprise Zone ~ Areas
targeted for revitalization by city and state leaders. TALLAHASSEE – Governor
Charlie Crist Monday named a new Florida Enterprise Zone
within Levy County to help stimulate economic development
activity. The Florida Enterprise Zone Program offers special
financial incentives to businesses located within designated “EZ” zones,
including job tax credits for employing residents, sales
tax refunds on business equipment, sales tax refunds on building
materials, Enterprise Zone property tax credit and sales
tax exemptions on electrical energy. The incentives help
create a more favorable business environment, encouraging
private investment and business development leading to employment
opportunities for Florida’s citizens. “This new
Enterprise Zone will help revitalize economically distressed
areas of Levy County in the best way possible, by encouraging
local businesses to expand and invest, and leading ultimately,
to job creation,” said Governor Crist. “I congratulate
the elected and appointed officials, along with the local
community and business leaders that have laid the groundwork
for this program.” The Florida Legislature authorized
the creation of a new enterprise zone during the 2005 Legislative
Session. The Levy County Enterprise Zone encompasses a total
of 15.09 square miles and is located in portions of unincorporated
Levy County, as well as the municipalities of Bronson, Chiefland,
Fanning Springs and Williston. “This announcement means
so much to Levy County. Achieving this designation has been
a huge effort, and has required tremendous cooperation from
the county and our local municipalities,” said Skipper
Henderson, Chairman of the newly created Levy County Enterprise
Zone Development Agency. “We really appreciate the
Governor’s support, and look forward to making this
one of the most productive and successful Enterprise Zone’s
in the state.” With this new designation, there are
now a total of 56 Florida Enterprise Zones located throughout
the state. Since 2001, nearly 36,000 new jobs have been facilitated
as a result of the Program. The state has provided $56.8
million worth of tax incentives to businesses within the
past five years. An integral part of the Enterprise Zone
application process is the adoption of an Enterprise Zone
Development Plan and the creation of an Enterprise Zone Development
Agency, which is comprised of at least 8 members representing
the designated area. The Agency is responsible for implementing
the Development Plan and for helping businesses apply for
and receive state and local financial incentives. The Governor’s
Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, which
administers the Enterprise Zone program, will work with Levy
County and each of the municipalities to help them implement
their newly created Enterprise Zone Development plans. For
more information please visit: http://www.floridaenterprisezone.com
U.S. Secretary of Labor Announces $2 Million Grant
to Aid Tornado Cleanup and Recovery in Florida. WASHINGTON — U.S.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao last week announced a $2
million grant, with an initial release of $1 million, to
create approximately 160 temporary jobs to assist in cleanup
and recovery efforts to alleviate damage caused by recent
tornadoes. "The recent tornado devastation in Florida
has left several counties in need of extensive cleanup and
repair," said Secretary Chao. "This $2 million
grant will provide temporary jobs to dislocated workers to
help communities recover and deliver aid to fellow Floridians
who have suffered loss and damage." On Feb. 3, 2007,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared the
counties of Lake, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia eligible
for FEMA's Public Assistance program. Dislocated workers
seeking assistance are encouraged to contact 1-866-FLA-2345.
In addition to cleanup and recovery assistance, the grant,
awarded to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, will
provide temporary employment on projects that provide Floridians
with food, clothing, and shelter. Those eligible to participate
in the temporary jobs projects include workers dislocated
as a result of the tornadoes, other dislocated workers and
the long-term unemployed. National Emergency Grants are part
of the Secretary of Labor's discretionary fund and are awarded
based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For
more information on National Emergency Grants and other Department
of Labor employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov/NEG/.
Teachers Connect With Local Businesses. Are you looking
for the experience of a lifetime…in one day? Take Your
Teacher to Work Day is a program available to teachers who
want to expand their knowledge in an occupation of their
choice for one school day. Take Your Teacher to Work Day
is an initiative that was developed by the Business and Economic
Development Council of the Suncoast Workforce Board and is
open to all Manatee and Sarasota county teachers. This program
is designed to provide an important link between educators
and local businesses in our region. Mary Ann Kauffman, Teacher
of Business Technology at Bayshore High School, was a recent
participant in Take Your Teacher to Work Day at Mixon Fruit
Farms. During her visit, she gained a greater understanding
of farming, merchandising, advertising, shipping and marketing
and how these occupations relate to the business of growing
and selling citrus in Manatee County. A valuable part of
Kauffman’s experience was discussing with the owners,
Dean and Janet Mixon, the history of their family business
up to present day operations. Erin Hagerty, daughter of the
Mixon’s and a student of Kauffman, accompanied her
teacher for the career shadow experience. “The value
of a student’s point of view and seeing first-hand
the connection between Business Management, a course Erin
is currently taking in school, and ‘real life’ duties
of her mother was awesome,” explained Kauffman. In
career and technical education (CTE) classrooms throughout
Manatee County schools, students are learning the value of
work ethics, the importance of communication and teambuilding,
and the necessary industry skills to prepare for the workforce. “Take
Your Teacher to Work Day validates what I am doing in the
CTE classroom everyday. At Mixon Fruit Farms, everyone works
together as if they are all part of the same family. The
employees, from high school age to senior citizen, value
the individual worth of each and every worker. Mixon Fruit
Farms demonstrates an EdVantage Core Value that says, ‘We
believe that all people have value and can add value,’” noted
Kauffman. Following Kauffman’s career shadow experience
at Mixon Fruit Farms, she shared with her students and fellow
teachers a PowerPoint presentation complete with pictures
and video. She also scheduled a field trip for her students
so that they may also experience the opportunity to visit
one of Manatee County’s oldest and most successful
family owned and operated business that is right in their
own backyard. “This work experience and field trip
created a relevancy between classroom education and future
career pathways. Take Your Teacher to Work Day is a program
that I strongly recommend other teachers pursue,” said
Kauffman. This article was brought to you by Doug Wagner,
Director of Adult Career and Technical School, School Board
of Manatee County, and member of the Board of Directors of
the Suncoast Workforce Board. For more information on the
Take Your Teacher to Work Day, please visit www.ManateeACT.com and click on Take Your Teacher To Work.
The Nation
"The President's Demand-Driven Workforce Development
Initiatives" Report Available. The Congressional Research
Service (CRS) has recently prepared a report, "The President's
Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives." This
CRS Report examines the President's High Growth Job Training
Initiative (HGJTI), Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTG),
and Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development
(WIRED). Between May 2002 and December 2006, nearly $732 million
has been awarded in grants for these initiatives. The report
describes these initiatives and provides Congress with suggestions
for potential Congressional oversight. Read “The President's
Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives” report
at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/
Demand%20Driven%20Initiatitives_RL33811.pdf.
EDA Regional Economic Development Roundtable Symposiums. The
U. S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration,
in partnership with the International Economic Development
Council (IEDC) and the National Association of Regional Councils
(NARC), will host a series of Regional Economic Development
Roundtable Symposia in 2007. Each symposium will focus on regional
strategies, policies and best practices to create jobs and
economic opportunity. Speakers will include regional and national
leaders from the private and public sectors. The program will
include case studies of successful regional approaches to economic
development, a session on innovation and entrepreneurship,
and training related to EDA programs. Each symposium will offer
the opportunity for learning, networking and idea-sharing with
other participants.
- Tuesday, March 13, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA on Innovation
- Thursday, April 12, 2007, Austin Region in San Antonio,
TX on Building Business on the Southwest Border
- Wednesday,
May 16, 2007, Seattle Region in Long Beach, CA on Global
Gateways
- Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Atlanta, GA on Disasters
and Economic Dislocations; Building a Disaster-Proof
Economy
- Wednesday, September 26, 2007, a joint symposium
by Denver and Chicago Regions in Kansas City, MO
on Entrepreneurship
Attendance is free for registered participants,
but registration is required.
Who Should Attend?
Economic developers
Non-profit organizations
Regional councils
Private sector organizations
Universities and colleges
Municipal, county, state, and regional governments
Utility companies
Other stakeholders with an interest in regional
economic development
The EDA Regional Symposia have been approved for
recertification credits for those possessing the
CEcD Designation.
For questions concerning the program,
please contact Dana Rothstein (drothstein@iedconline.org, 202-942-9470).
For questions concerning registration, please contact
Earnestine Jones (ejones@iedconline.org,
202-942-9463).
From NASWA’s Workforce
Bulletin - February 16, 2007:
Fiscal Year 2007 Spending Bill Approved. President Bush yesterday
signed into law legislation (H.J. Res. 20 located at http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/hj20enr.pdf)
to fund federal government operations for the remainder of
the 2007 federal fiscal year ending on September 30, 2007.
The federal government had been operating under a continuing
resolution (CR) through February 15.
- Most notable to the
workforce system is language included in the bill (page
21, final paragraph of posted pdf version)
to prohibit the use of any funds appropriated by the bill
or any other Act from implementing proposed regulations for
the
Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Employment Services (ES)
and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs until such
time
as Congress approves legislation to reauthorize these programs.
According to discussions NASWA has had with Congressional
staff, this legislative provision is intended to block 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). A
number of Congressional Members have expressed concern with
the USDOL
effort to alter policy in advance of the approval of reauthorizing
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 at: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?
results_art_filename=kenmurletter.htm.
- Also included in the spending bill is language that would
ease the transfer of federal equity in state employment security
real property to the states. According to the provision (page
23, final paragraph of posted pdf version), "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." NASWA received input
on this provision from its WIA Attorneys Workgroup. Members
noted that the intent of the language appears to be to allow
states to sell a SESA-owned building, and use the proceeds
for ES/UI administrative purposes generally. Under current
law, such a sale would require that the proceeds be used
only to acquire or improve SESA real property. While it appears
most states would desire increased flexibility to spend sale
proceeds, one member noted the provision would prohibit the
use of the proceeds by WIA Title I operators, Workforce Investment
Boards and other members of the one-stop system.
- 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 line-item,
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.
- The base funding
level for UI state administration under the bill would
ensure that the planning targets released
by the USDOL on June 1, 2006, will be the amounts distributed
for the fiscal year. Levels in the spending bill will
permit the USDOL to continue funding for Reemployment and
Eligibility
Assessment (REA) initiatives funded in fiscal year 2006
through fiscal year 2007. The funding level in the bill
would not
support
the $30 million increase the Administration requested
to expand REAs to additional states in fiscal year 2007.
- Congress now turns its attention to sorting through the
Administration's fiscal year 2008 Budget (recap provided
in the February 9 Bulletin)
over the next seven months. Neither the House nor the
Senate
has yet introduced appropriations bills to fund government
operations in fiscal year 2008. NASWA will work with
its Members over the next month to develop its fiscal
year
2008 request
and to inform the Congress on what is needed to effectively
administer workforce programs. Questions regarding
approved and prospective funding levels and the status of
Congressional
deliberations should be directed to Curt Harris, NASWA
Congressional Affairs Director at 202-434-8020.
http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?
results_art_filename=spendingbill07.htm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
(none)
State Grants
2007 Florida Small Cities CDBG Program
Federal Grants
High Growth Job Training Initiative Grants for the Long-Term
Care Sector of the Health Care Industry (HGJTI)
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program NOFA
Third Generation (WIRED) Initiative (Repeat)
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO)
Grants
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
Solar America Initiative (SAI) Market Transformation: Solar
City Strategic Partnerships
Foundation Grants
Stand-Down Grants for Homeless
Scholarships/Awards
EDA Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2007
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.
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
Feb. 26-27, 2007
National Low Income Housing Coalition Conference
Washington DC
To register or access the conference brochure visit: https://www2398.ssldomain.com/nlihc/conference/index.cfm?
CFID=5592985&CFTOKEN=94903221
February 28 - March 2, 2007
Office of Urban Opportunity, Fla. Dept. of Community Affairs,
2007 Redevelopment Conference
Florida Mall Hotel in Orlando, Florida
http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/fpf/conference/index.cfm
March 5-7, 2007
2007 Road to Reentry
Defendant/Offender Workforce Development Conference
Charlotte, North Carolina
http://www.ncwp.uscourts.gov/owdconf/
March 13, 2007
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day
Florida Capitol, Second Floor Rotunda
Tallahassee, Florida
For more information go to: http://www.fddc.org/announcements/DD%20Day%202007%20Save%20the%20Date.pdf
April 2nd-5th, 2007
3rd ANNUAL National Offender Workforce Development Conference
Becoming A Second Chance Society Again
Charlotte, North Carolina
For conference registration call 314-209-9400 or go to www.proworkdev.com
May 21-22, 2007
Rural Economic Development and Tourism Summit
Jackson County Agriculture Center
Marianna, Florida
For more information please contact Susan Estes at 877-467-7352
or susane@opportunityflorida.com
May 29-30, 2007
4th Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference
The Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida
www.floridaresearch.org/index.php?src=gendocs&link=Tech%20
Transfer_Home&category=TechTransfer
May 30, 31 & June 1, 2007
National Unemployment Insurance Issues Conference
Dallas, Texas
Contact Cheryl Robinson at 202-637-3464 for additional information;
registration and specifics forthcoming.
June 23-26, 2007
Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) Annual Conference
“ Competing in a World of Change”
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Stay tuned! www.fedc.net
July 17-19, 2007
Workforce Innovations 2007
“ Beyond Boundaries”
Kansas City (MO)
www.WorkforceInnovations.org
Odds and Ends
SSTI offers comprehensive resource for those involved
in technology-based economic development. During the last several
years, the U.S. economy has been undergoing a dramatic transformation
as the nation moves to an economy driven by technology—through
the creation of new industries and the application of technology
in traditional industries. Competing in a global economy,
regions must have an economic base composed of firms that
constantly innovate and maximize the use of technology in
the workplace. Technology-based economic development is the
approach used to help create a climate where that new economic
base can thrive. Based on the experience of tech-based economies
like Silicon Valley, Research Triangle, and Route 128, it
is generally acknowledged now that the following elements
are required for a tech-based economy:
•
An intellectual infrastructure, i.e. universities and public
or private research laboratories that generate new knowledge
and discoveries
•
Mechanisms for transferring knowledge from one individual
to another or from one company to another
•
Physical infrastructure that includes high quality telecommunications
systems and affordable high speed Internet connections
•
Highly skilled technical workforce
•
Sources of risk capital
•
Quality of life, and
•
Entrepreneurial culture
This resource guide focuses on three of the elements – intellectual
infrastructure, capital, and entrepreneurial culture – and
is intended to assist economic development practitioners
in their efforts to accelerate transition to technology based
economies. The State Science and Technology Institute is
a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving
government-industry programs that encourage economic growth
through the application of science and technology. Access
this guide at: http://www.ssti.org/Publications/Onlinepubs/resource_guide.pdf.
Two Reports on the Performance of the Nation’s Twelfth-Graders
Released by NAEP. Results of the National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP) 2005 twelfth-grade reading and mathematics
assessments and the 2005 NAEP High School Transcript Study
(HSTS) were just released. The twelfth-grade reading and
mathematics report provides national results on the performance
of America’s high school seniors on NAEP. The Nation’s
Report Card: America’s High School Graduates presents
information about the types of courses 2005 high school graduates
completed, how many credits they earned, and the grades they
received. Information on the relationships between high school
academic records and performance on the NAEP mathematics
and science assessments is also included. Both reports examine
results for student groups including race/ethnicity and gender.
Reading findings include:
* Decline in scores and the percentages of students at or
above Proficient and at or above Basic compared with 1992.
There have been no significant changes at these levels since
2002.
* No significant change in the White-Black or White-Hispanic
gap compared with previous years.
Mathematics findings include:
* Sixty-one percent performed at or above Basic, and 23 percent
were at or above Proficient.
* NOTE: Due to changes to the framework for 2005, results
can’t be compared to previous years.
High School Transcript Study findings include:
* Graduates in 2005 completed more rigorous curricula than
previous graduates.
* Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP) 2005 twelfth-grade reading and mathematics assessments
and the 2005 NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) were
just released.
The twelfth-grade reading and mathematics report provides
national results on the performance of America’s high
school seniors on NAEP. The Nation’s Report Card: America’s
High School Graduates presents information about the types
of courses 2005 high school graduates completed, how many
credits they earned, and the grades they received. Information
on the relationships between high school academic records
and performance on the NAEP mathematics and science assessments
is also included. Both reports examine results for student
groups including race/ethnicity and gender.
Reading findings include:
* Decline in scores and the percentages of students at or
above Proficient and at or above Basic compared with 1992.
There have been no significant changes at these levels since
2002.
* No significant change in the White-Black or White-Hispanic
gap compared with previous years.
Mathematics findings include:
* Sixty-one percent performed at or above Basic, and 23 percent
were at or above Proficient.
* NOTE: Due to changes to the framework for 2005, results
can’t be compared to previous years.
High School Transcript Study findings include:
* Graduates in 2005 completed more rigorous curricula than
previous graduates.
* The overall grade point average (GPA) has been climbing
since 1990 and was 2.98 in 2005.
* Graduates with stronger academic records obtain higher
NAEP scores.
Full results are available at: http://nationsreportcard.gov including 2005 twelfth-grade science results released earlier,
at: http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2005/. To download,
view and print the publications as PDF files, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007467
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007468. Quote for the Week:
“There is nothing
like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find
the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
Nelson Mandela
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