 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Workforce Florida Weekly Update 3-28-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsNew Banner Center Seeks to Address Demand for Skilled Energy Workers. SUMTERVILLE —3-28-07. Helping to grow the skilled energy workforce is the aim of the new Employ Florida Banner Center for Energy that has been launched with a $500,000 grant from Workforce Florida, Inc. The center, which will focus on developing curricula and increasing training opportunities for electric utility line workers and power plant employees, is based at Lake-Sumter Community College’s Sumter campus. It is a joint initiative with Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce. Today, state and local workforce and economic development leaders, education partners and energy sector executives gathered at Lake-Sumter Community College to outline plans for the Banner Center that will address a critical workforce need in Florida. “If you want to know just how important it is to maintain a well-skilled electric utility workforce, just flip on a light switch. We all do so every day expecting the lights to come on,” said Katherine E. Wilson, Chairman of Workforce Florida, prior to today’s kickoff event. “Yet, as service demands increase and its aging workforce moves closer to retirement, Florida’s electric utility industry is beginning to feel the effects of the nationwide energy sector’s technical talent shortage. Through this workforce, education and industry partnership, the Banner Center will ensure Florida continues to lead the way in developing a pipeline of highly skilled utility workers now and in the future.” The Employ Florida Banner Center for Energy is one of 10 such centers created under a year-old, $6.2 million initiative to develop the state’s workforce in several key Florida industries. These centers increase opportunities for cutting-edge training for Florida workers while supporting high-wage, high-growth sectors — a priority of the state’s economic development plan. The centers also are a top strategic priority of the entire workforce system, including Workforce Florida, the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) and the state’s 24 regional workforce boards and nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers – affiliated together as Employ Florida. The Employ Florida Banner Center for Energy is the second Banner Center to be based in Central Florida. Valencia Community College has taken the lead role in establishing the Employ Florida Banner Center for Health Sciences. Other centers have been created to expand training for entry-level and advanced workers in aviation and aerospace, biotechnology, construction, financial services, homeland security and defense, logistics and distribution and manufacturing. There is also an Employ Florida Banner Center based in Okaloosa County charged with improving career education in Florida high schools. All of the Employ Florida Banner Centers are part of the Employ Florida network of state and local workforce partners that provide workforce development services and programs. For more information on Employ Florida Banner Centers, please go to www.EmployFlorida.com. The Communities Of Tampa Bay Awarded $113,000 International Grant. TAMPA BAY, FL (March 28, 2007) – The Tampa Bay Partnership has been awarded a $113,000 grant for international business development by Enterprise Florida’s Selection Committee for the Florida International Business Expansion Initiative.Working as a team, the Tampa Bay Partnership, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, Pinellas County Economic Development and the World Trade Center Tampa Bay crafted the successful regional proposal and winning the grant that significantly increases Tampa Bay’s international efforts.“Being awarded this grant is exactly the cooperative effort this region needs,” said Wachovia Regional President Roy McCraw who serves as Chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and Vice Chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership. “This demonstrates how working regionally can bring tangible benefits to individual communities.”The grant will be used on four different community programs:
The planned programs will be coordinated regionally allowing
all communities to participate and engage in these activities.“We
applaud the leadership of Enterprise Florida and the 2006
Florida Legislature for having the vision to create the Florida
International Business Expansion Initiative,” said
Bronson Thayer, International Chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership. “These
additional resources for international efforts are critical
to the diversity of our region and Florida’s economy.” Thayer
added that the education of students and teachers in our
area will be an important component of advancing the international
efforts into the future. About Tampa Bay Partnership: Governor Crist Highlights Priorities for Florida’s Children ~ Recognizes Take Stock in Children Partners. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist this week highlighted his priorities for Florida’s children, which include ensuring safe and secure neighborhoods, world-class education and opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Governor Crist participated in Take Stock in Children’s rally on the front steps of the Historic Capitol, recognizing the organization’s corporate partners Starbucks and AutoNation. “As public servants and community leaders, the decisions we make today shape the future that Florida’s children will face,” Governor Crist said. “We must be certain to provide a solid foundation on which they can develop their full potential and build their own hopes and dreams.” Take Stock in Children helps high-potential, low-income children stay in school, earn a college degree and enter the workforce. The organization provides scholarships, mentors and guidance counseling. Governor Crist joined the organization’s president, Mike Weinstein, in recognizing Starbucks for coordinating the collection of 40,000 school-supply items at 250 Florida locations. AutoNation was commended for 10 years of financial support and being a state leader in the number of employees who mentor. Governor Crist also attended Autism Awareness Day, hosted by the Autism Society of Florida. Autism is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and is a lifelong neurological disability. It affects a person’s ability to communicate, understand language, socially interact with others and, in later years, obtain and keep employment. “We have many opportunities to improve the quality of life for Floridians with disabilities like autism and for their dedicated caregivers,” Governor Crist said. “By educating people, we can increase understanding and help families navigate the system of state agencies and local organizations.” For the full release go to: www.myflorida.com. Florida Partnership Eastward Ho! Among The Communities Highlighted By The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency As Brownfields Showcase Communities. The Eastward Ho! Brownfields Partnership is a regional collaboration focusing on shared environmental restoration and urban revitalization efforts. The new partnership will work to revitalize southeast Florida's historic urban core, thereby alleviating pressures on the imperiled Everglades. Brownfields are abandoned, idled or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination. In May 1997, Vice President Gore announced a Brownfields National Partnership to bring together the resources of more than 15 federal agencies to address local cleanup and reuse issues in a more coordinated manner. This multi-agency partnership has pledged support to 16 "Brownfields Showcase Communities"—models demonstrating the benefits of collaborative activity on brownfields. The designated Brownfields Showcase Communities are distributed across the country and vary by size, resources, and community type. A wide range of support will be leveraged, depending on the particular needs of each Showcase Community. The Eastward Ho! Partnership offers a model of how a regional coalition can accomplish environmental restoration and urban revitalization in a highly fragmented administrative structure. A three-pronged approach of collaboration, strategy, and action will allow the Partnership to address regional brownfields issues. During the next two years, the Eastward Ho! Partnership expects to complete a regional inventory of potential brownfields, integrated with socio-economic, health, and transportation data. Rehabilitation and redevelopment projects will feature sustainable reuse, including mixed-income housing, sound urban design principles, and bicycle, transit, and pedestrian friendly development. Establishing replicability, and taking advantage of existing financial tools (including the federal Brownfields Tax Incentive, a brownfields assessment revolving loan fund, and streamlined governmental processes for brownfields redevelopment) are priorities for the Partnership. For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/slocat.htm#eastward. Flagler County the nation’s fastest growing county since Census 2000 (MARCH 22, 2007 U.S. Census Bureau News). Flagler, along the Atlantic Coast between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, was the nation’s fastest growing county since Census 2000 with a 66.7 percent population increase from 2000 to 2006. The number of Flagler residents has reached 83,000. Among the 20 fastest-growing counties from 2000 to 2006, 13 were in the South, four in the West and three in the Midwest. Georgia had 14 counties among the 100 fastest-growing counties. Texas followed with 13, and Florida had 12. For the complete press release with links to tables go to: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/009756.html. Bronson to Host Alternative Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg to Promote Ethanol, Bio-Diesel Production in Florida. TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced that he is hosting a "Farm to Fuel" summit July 18-20 at the Marriot Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg. Hoping to build on recent developments in Florida's efforts to establish a renewable energy industry, Bronson said the meeting will cover current initiatives relating to ethanol and bio-diesel, as well as other opportunities for renewable energy production in Florida. "There has been a good deal of momentum recently in our drive to get this industry off the ground," Bronson said. "We're eager to share that with participants and provide them with the information they need to enter this industry." Florida's "Farm to Fuel" initiative -- inspired by the bipartisan national organization "25x'25" -- seeks to enhance the market for and promote the production and distribution of renewable energy from Florida-grown crops, agricultural wastes and residues, and other biomass. In the process, it is designed to give Florida agricultural producers alternative crops to grow to keep their farms and ranches viable. Last August in Orlando, Bronson hosted the first ever Florida "Farm to Fuel" summit, which attracted more than 300 participants, and the Commissioner believes that this year's conference will be bigger and better. Information about the "Farm to Fuel" initiative and the upcoming summit can be found at: http://www.FloridaFarmToFuel.com. Reservations for the summit should be made directly with the resort, which can be reached at 1-888-303-4430 or http://www.vinoyrenaissanceresort.com. A month ago, the Commissioner, along with Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole, awarded $15 million in state energy grants to producers for renewable energy projects. Bronson is seeking additional funding for the program from the Legislature this spring. Bronson believes that Florida can lead the nation in the production of renewable energy as a result of its mild climate, abundant sunshine, ample rainfall and long growing season. "We're excited about the program and are looking forward to exploring with participants at the upcoming summit the potential in this industry that exists for their businesses," Bronson said. Education Commissioner: School Enrollment Down 3,500 (3/20/07 - Tallahassee Democrat - by Bill Kaczor, Associated Press Writer). Public school enrollment has declined by 3,500 students since the last academic year, saving taxpayers' money and reducing the need for new teachers and classroom space, according to figures presented Tuesday to the State Board of Education. The enrollment decline, based on a February head count, is the first since 1981-82. Declines are most pronounced in central Florida except for some inland areas such as Polk County, which still showed growth, legislative statistician Carolyn DuBard said later. She said Flagler County on the northeast coast, the Panhandle and rural areas also generally are continuing to grow. It's a matter of fewer children than expected entering school and more leaving, mainly going out of state and a lesser extent to private schools, DuBard said. She said researchers, though, don't know why students are leaving Florida. To access the full article go to: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_BOARD_OF_EDUCATION_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT. 2007 Reentry and Anti-Gang Summit in Miami. The 2007 Reentry and Anti-Gang Summit will be held April 2 – 4, 2007, at the Radisson Hotel Miami, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. Criminal justice and community leaders from throughout the Southern District of Florida and special guests from across America will engage in an exercise of strategic thinking that will re-shape South Florida’s coordinated response to the return of thousands of ex-felons and the increasing threat of gang violence. Strategies that emerge from the summit will serve as the basis for future PSN funding. The first 150 registrants will participate for free, which includes all meals, so register early. To obtain a registration form e-mail request to rawlin_w@bellsouth.net or via fax to 954.885.1383. Participants must register by Thursday, March 29, 2007. After the first 150 registrants the fee is $225. You will receive notification within 48 hours after registering if your registration fee has been waived. If you require sleeping rooms, the hotel is offering summit attendees a rate of $107.00 per night, call 305.374.0000 or 800.333.3333 for reservations. For more info go to: http://www.miamidade.gov/grants/opportunities/g-announcements.asp#a1. Workforce Plus Moves To Find Executives (Tallahassee Democrat 3/28/07). Tallahassee area business leaders joined Workforce Plus officials on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of its new Executive Center, a specialized center that provides employment and recruitment services to professional job candidates and companies at no cost. "This Executive Center is something this community has needed," said Robert Routa, chairman of the board of directors of Workforce Plus, the work-force development board for Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla counties. Routa said local company managers should consider the center as an extension of their businesses and human-resource departments. It is located at 325 John Knox Road, Building B-100, in Tallahassee. About six months ago, Workforce Plus' board agreed to focus on addressing the needs of high-profile employers and to expand services for professional job seekers, said Workforce Plus CEO Kimberly Moore. The Executive Center will provide professional candidates with customized training and education in several areas, including career counseling, networking skills and professional interviewing techniques. It also will assist those candidates in connecting with employers in industries like health care, engineering, banking and government. For employers, the center will offer on-site recruiting, help with ongoing training for current workers and other services. "We will retain local talent in our area," Moore said. Learn more at: www.wfplus.org. Local Manufacturers Discuss New Work Experience Program. Florida, like many other states, faces a critical shortage of skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. In a recent skills gap report, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) identified a disturbing gap between the demand for highly skilled manufacturing workers and the potential demand. Local Treasure Coast Manufacturers are proactively addressing this issue and working in partnership with the Workforce Development Board and the St. Lucie County School District to design a summer work experience that will train new workers specifically to meet the needs of their industry. Through a grant from the Department of Labor, manufacturing companies will host high school students in a three week work experience during July that requires no cost for the employer. The funds to pay the students are supplied by the grant creating a win-win situation for students and businesses alike. Manufacturers have the opportunity to work with the student interns and influence their future workforce; students gain experience for the real world of work – earning while they’re learning! Participating students are selected from the Manufacturing Academy at the Treasure Coast High School (TCHS) which is a specialized program dedicated to preparing students for careers in manufacturing and engineering. Due to the hands-on learning environment of their classroom, students will enter the work experience having already developed basic manufacturing skills and an understanding of employer expectations. On Friday, March 30th at 9 AM at the Workforce Development Board. 584 NW University Boulevard, Suite 100, Port St. Lucie, manufacturing companies will gather to discuss the summer program and how they can be a part of the plan to grow their own employees. The meeting is open to any manufacturer who is interested in partnering with the TCHS Manufacturing Academy. Businesses interested in attending the meeting or 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. 1st Annual Regional Career Recruitment Expo Sold Out - Businesses eager to keep Home Grown Talent in Southwest Florida. Three weeks prior to the 1st Annual Regional Career Recruitment Expo the event has sold out. Sixty five businesses from all across Southwest Florida will participate in the first of its kind Regional Career Recruitment Expo, April 18th, 1:30-6:30pm at the Alico Arena on the Campus of FGCU. “We were not sure whether or not Southwest Florida businesses were ready to embrace a regional approach to employee recruitment” says Jim Wall of the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board the agency along with the Alliance of Educational Leaders coordinating the event. “The overwhelming response tells us the regional approach is the future of employee recruitment in Southwest Florida”, says Wall. Why is a regional approach to employee recruitment important? Thomas R. Quinn, Jr., President and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, the Title Sponsor of this event, stated: “Retaining local talent is a challenge in many regions across America. The key is to make sure our children and grandchildren recognize the diverse educational, career and lifestyle opportunities Southwest Florida offers. As a major employer throughout the region, we are glad to help spread the word about the enhanced business climate and foster a recruiting environment for graduates of high school, community colleges and universities who might otherwise seek out opportunities elsewhere.” Dr. Richard Pegnetter, Interim President of FGCU, also stated: “This is an opportunity for education, business and government to work together in promoting careers and economic development within Southwest Florida.” This partnership of the area’s private and public educational institutions is Southwest Florida’s opportunity to showcase its best and brightest while refuting the belief individuals need to leave the area to pursue career ambitions. The general public is also welcome and anyone interested can register on-line at www.SWFLeducation.com. For more information, contact Jim Wall at 239-225-2500 or visit the Alliance of Educational Leaders’ website at www.SWFLeducation.com. WorkSource Announces New Location for its Corporate Offices effective April 16. March 28, 2007: WorkSource, the regional workforce development organization, announces the relocation of its corporate offices to Fleming Island Business Park, at 1845 Town Center Blvd, Suite 250, Orange Park, Fla. 32003. The phone number remains the same: (904) 213-3800. The new corporate office opens for business the week of April 16, 2006. WorkSource, operated by First Coast Workforce Development, Inc., is responsible for providing a trained workforce to the 16,200 employers in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, & St. Johns Counties. First Coast Workforce Development administers an annual budget of over $14 million. The organization also focuses on the economic development aspect of workforce preparation, attracting new business and helping current businesses expand in the First Coast region. For more information on WorkSource’s services and a map to the new location, visit their website at www.worksourcefl.com. WorkSource Announces new location on Jacksonville’s
South Side Career Center Relocating to be Closer to Business
Center. March 28, 2007: WorkSource, the regional workforce
development organization, announces the relocation of its
south side Jacksonville Center to 6800 Southpoint Parkway,
Suite 950, Jacksonville, FL 32216. The phone number remains
the same: (904) 997-3100. The Center will continue to provide
services to job seekers, including job leads, information
on filing unemployment claims, access to labor market and
salary information, assessments and a computer resource room
for updating resumes and conducting internet research. The
Center opens for business the week of April 2, 2006. With
this new center, WorkSource creates a more central presence
in South Duval County, right on the J. Turner Butler and
I-95 corridor, greatly enhancing its capacity to serve the
local business community. The new center reduces office space
by 60%, a move prompted by reduced funding and the dynamic
changes in the workforce since the Beach Boulevard center
was established in 1998. “More of our customers are
accessing services electronically,” says Bruce Ferguson,
WorkSource CEO. “With record low unemployment in the
region and advances in technology, we have fewer walk-ins.
We’re changing our footprint to match our customer
base.” Learn more at: www.worksourcefl.com. Want to Keep Up With the News in Tallahassee? Follow this link to Florida Capital News - http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage. What’s happening at the Employ Florida Marketplace? As of today there are over 2.5 million individuals registered who have created over 130,000 resumes on the site. Over 145,000 employers have registered and are currently listing 12,817 jobs. In addition to those “preferred” jobs there are thousands of other Florida jobs “spidered” in from corporate and private website’s all over the nation. Remember – registration gives you access to more tools but it’s not necessary so why wait? Visit the Marketplace at: www.employflorida.com today and find out what over 30,000 unique visitors already know! The NationNASWA Selects JobCentral National Labor Exchange - Provides Employers, Job Seekers and States a Cost-Effective Transition After Phase-out of America's Job Bank. Washington, D.C., Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - JobCentral National Labor Exchange (www.jobcentral.com) has been selected by The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) (www.naswa.org) to provide job seekers, employers and states a cost-effective transition from America's Job Bank (AJB) when it is discontinued June 30, 2007, as previously announced by the U.S. Department of Labor. JobCentral will provide a wide range of employment services to participating state workforce agencies, from job listing distribution to and from state employment web sites to participation in the national labor exchange with other states. The service will also be available to federal agencies for fast response to recruiting needs, after disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. JobCentral will allow job seekers to search over five million (5,000,000) jobs from corporate web sites, newspapers, trade associations, and other Internet sources in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, U. S. territories, major metropolitan areas, and all U.S. cities and postal zip code areas. It will be available free-of-charge to job seekers. Job postings, resume searching capabilities and other services will be available to all employers in all industries. The service will be free to employers through participating state workforce agencies. Richard A. Hobbie, Executive Director of The National Association of State Workforce Agencies, said, "With the planned phase out of AJB by the U.S. Department of Labor, NASWA needed to act fast to help states implement a successor. The JobCentral National Labor Exchange is designed to do that and more." William O. Warren, Executive Director of DirectEmployers Association, the non-profit consortium of over 250 leading U.S. employers, which owns and manages the JobCentral site, added, "JobCentral will play a prominent role in helping employers build their workforce and comply with state and federal regulations by serving as our nation's only online cross-state labor exchange and distributing job listings to the state and local level. It will be invaluable as a replacement for the role America's Job Bank has played in helping employers meet federal job posting requirements for Affirmative Action Plans and Jobs for Veterans Act compliance." About The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA): The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) is an organization of state administrators of unemployment insurance laws, employment services, training programs, employment statistics and labor market information and other programs and services provided through publicly-funded state workforce systems. About JobCentral National Labor Exchange: JobCentral National Labor Exchange is owned and managed by DirectEmployers Association, a non-profit consortium of leading U. S. employers. Its member companies include an impressive group of industry leaders such as Abbott Laboratories, Analyst International, Allstate, ALLTEL Corporation, Anheuser-Busch, Ashland, Avaya, Baxter, Bell South, The Boeing Company, Capgemini, Cargill, Cingular Wireless, Cintas, Cisco, Coca-Cola, General Electric, General Dynamics, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, ManTech International, Mellon Financial Corporation, Merck, Harris Corporation, Home Depot, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Mayo Clinic, Merrill Lynch, National City Corporation, Norfolk Southern, Northrop Grumman, Procter & Gamble, Progressive Insurance, Raytheon, Sears Holdings, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, Sprint, Textron, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Union Pacific, UnitedHealth Group, USAA, and Xerox Corporation. FLORIDA NOTE: The Employ Florida Marketplace will upload to and download from JobCentral when AJB goes down. National Summit on America's "Silent Epidemic" to Highlight America's Response to the Dropout Crisis - MTV, TIME, the National Governors Association, Civic Enterprises and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Host May 9th Summit in Washington, D.C. Washington, DC – On May 9th, policymakers, non-profits, media and business leaders will participate in the "National Summit on America's Silent Epidemic" at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The day-long event will be spearheaded by Civic Enterprises, the National Governors Association (NGA), MTV, TIME, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. More than 1 million American high school students drop out every year. That's about one every 29 seconds or 6,000 who drop out every school day. Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to be unemployed, in poor health, living in poverty, in prison, on public assistance, and single parents with children who also drop out of high school. The landmark summit will bring experts and innovators together with elected officials, policymakers, educators and students to identify concrete steps for local, state and federal policymakers to help more students finish high school prepared for college and the workforce. Participants will examine current research about the causes of the dropout problem and effective interventions to increase the number of students who graduate ready for college, career and life. The summit also will unveil a major new study about the perspectives and roles of parents in addressing the dropout crisis. "There is a high school dropout epidemic in America. The public is now aware that almost one third of all public high school students - and about one half of minority students - fail to graduate from high school with their class," said John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises. "Now it is time for the nation to answer this wake-up call and do something significant about it." This summit builds on the work of NGA and governors throughout the country, including an aggressive Action Agenda for Improving America's High Schools and a 50-state compact to ensure a common definition for graduation rates. These efforts were spurred two years ago by Bill Gates' speech at the National Education Summit on High Schools in which he declared America's high schools "obsolete." Access the full press release with links to more information at: http://www.civicenterprises.net/news_022807.php. Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin - March 23, 2007:
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:(none) State Grants(none) Federal GrantsEconomic Development Assistance Programs Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Program Recreational Programs For Individuals With Disabilities Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--Model Demonstration Centers on Early Childhood Language Intervention Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities--Television
Access Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) National Training and Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreements
(NCA) Foundation GrantsLocal Store Grants program Planet Orange Financial Literacy Programs Helping Children of Domestic Violence Grant Program New Routes to Community Health Deadline approaches for Home Depot Foundation's 2007 Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly. The first deadline for applying for the Home Depot Foundation's 2007 Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly signature program closes on Friday, March 30. The award is for nonprofits that have completed green built affordable housing projects in the past two years. The first deadline is to complete a short Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by March 30. Home Depot will read the LOIs and invite selected organizations to submit a full project application. Without completing the LOI, organizations can not participate in this year's competition. For information, visit Home Depot's website and select the section called Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly - it will explain the process and provide access the LOI which is an online application. Home Depot will award a winner ($75,000), a runner-up ($25,000) and 5 honorable mention ($2,500) grant awards in both the rental and homeownership categories. The website address is www.homedepotfoundation.org. Scholarships/AwardsYou Make A Difference Awards For Teachers Good Neighbor Awards 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. April 26 – 27, 2007 May 17, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
March 29, 2007 April 2nd-5th, 2007 April 2 - 6, 2007 April 24, 2007 May 8 – 11, 2007 May 14-15, 2007 May 21-22, 2007 May 29-30, 2007 May 30, 31 & June 1, 2007 June 4-7, 2007 June 23-26, 2007 July 17-19, 2007 Odds and EndsNFIB Offers Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom Programs. Small-business owners have an important story to tell and a valuable message to share with America's youth. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ (NFIB) Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom programs are designed to bring real life stories of entrepreneurs into the classroom, enabling students to learn first-hand about the risks and rewards of operating a small business. Working with high schools and colleges, the Young Entrepreneur Foundation (YEF) partners with organizations to utilize the skills and talents of NFIB members to enhance the learning of future entrepreneurs. NFIB members bring learning to life by sharing their experiences of taking an idea and turning it into a business. Tomorrow's innovators are everywhere. Sure you can find them in business and marketing classrooms, but YEF believes entrepreneurs are artists, musicians, scientists, doctors and writers, too. These future leaders need to learn of the exciting opportunities of entrepreneurship, and we're committed to promoting entrepreneurship to the next generation of small-business owners. The three-module curriculum exposes students of any discipline to real-life stories of entrepreneurship, enabling classrooms to become laboratories where students can learn about operating a small business. Learn more at: http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_27244.html. New Survey Says 50 Percent Of High School Students Bored In Class. Fifty percent of high school students are bored in class, according to a new Indiana University survey. Seventy five percent of students attribute their boredom to a lack of interest in classroom material and 31 percent said that they have “no interaction with the teacher.” The High School Survey of Student Engagement reflects the opinions and aspirations of more 80,000 students across 26 states. When asked why they enjoy or attend school, the desire to attend college and the opportunity to socialize with peers received the most responses at 73 percent and 68 percent, respectively. Students spend a majority of their time outside of school socializing with friends, working and practicing a sport or musical instrument. The full survey results are available at: http://ceep.indiana.edu/hssse/pdf/HSSSE_2006_Report.pdf. Population Reference Bureau Website Offers Wealth Of Information. The Population Reference Bureau informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being of current and future generations.
PRB's Core Themes and Strategic Approaches: Reproductive Health and Fertility; Children and Families; Population and the Environment; and Population Futures—Aging, Inequality and Poverty, Migration and Urbanization, and Gender. Emphasis is placed on two Strategic Approaches: Building Coalitions and Mobilizing Civil Society. PRB's work is funded by private foundations, government agencies, and individual donors, and we frequently collaborate with other nonprofit organizations and universities. To these partnerships, PRB brings broad expertise and innovative, cost-effective approaches to analysis, information sharing, and capacity building. Check it out at: www.prb.org. Quote for the Week:“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) |
