Workforce Florida Weekly Update 4-04-07

CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends

The State & Regions

New Employ Florida Banner Center Provides Training Opportunities for Construction Industry Workforce. Workforce Florida, Inc., has awarded a $500,000 grant to Santa Fe Community College to launch the Employ Florida Banner Center for Construction. The center will work with industry representatives statewide to expand training opportunities for entry-level and experienced workers in construction trades such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing and masonry. The new program is a joint initiative with Central Florida Community College, Lake City Community College and Tallahassee Community College. Key local partners include FloridaWorks and the Builders Association of North Central Florida. In its first year, the center is developing two programs targeting entry-level and incumbent workers. It is also purchasing a custom-built $100,000 mobile training center that will be used for training statewide. The program will begin training prospective construction workers this month. The Employ Florida Banner Center for Construction is part of a $6.2 million strategic initiative of the state workforce system to create leading centers charged with developing Florida’s workforce to meet current and future demands in key high-skill, high-wage industries. It is one of 10 new Employ Florida Banner Centers and the second to be located in Alachua County. The Employ Florida Banner Center for Biotechnology is based at the University of Florida. Katherine E. Wilson, Chairman, Workforce Florida, Inc. will be joined by Dr. Jackson Sasser, President, Santa Fe Community College, Jim Painter, Co-owner, Painter Masonry; Board Member, FloridaWorks; Former Mayor, City of Gainesville for a press conference 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, April 5, 2007 at Gatorland Toyota Construction Site located in the 3000 block of Main Street, Gainesville, FL. For more information about this and other Employ Florida Banner Centers visit www.EmployFlorida.com.

Florida’s February Unemployment Remains Steady at 3.3 Percent ~ Florida Unemployment Continues Below National Average. TALLAHASSEE – Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) Director Monesia T. Brown announced Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2007 was 3.3 percent, unchanged from the January 2007 rate. Based on the latest nationwide data, Florida had the lowest unemployment rate of the ten most populous states and continued to be below the national average. The comparable national unemployment rate for February was 4.5 percent.
“ Florida’s diverse economy continues to grow and offer new job opportunities,” said AWI Director Monesia T. Brown. “Just two weeks ago Governor Charlie Crist and former Governor Jeb Bush formally dedicated the Scripps Research Institute’s Palm Beach County biotech campus. Along with the Governor, we will continue to support Florida’s growth industries and steer the course toward an even better Florida.” Florida’s workforce system is recognized nationally for its workforce training programs, helping the state attract and retain high tech industries. In a poll released last year by Expansion Management magazine, Florida ranked among the top 10 states with the best workforce training programs. For the full release go to: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf.

FHTCC Named Finalist for Economic Development Leadership Award. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) has been chosen as a finalist for the prestigious CoreNet Global Economic Development Leadership Award for its unique approach to high tech economic development. One of six finalists in the innovation award category, FHTCC was selected on the basis of best practices, leadership and innovation in economic development. “The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is honored to be selected as a finalist for an award that is so highly regarded in the economic development community,” said Randy Berridge, FHTCC President. Berridge and a small group of FHTCC volunteers traveled to Princeton University to present to a panel of senior corporate real estate executives and economic development leaders. The winner will be announced on April 30th at the CoreNet Global Summit in Denver. For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com.

Governor Crist and Secretary McNeil Announce Juvenile Justice Week and Blueprint Commission~ Stakeholders, advocates and citizen leaders will recommend department’s strategic plan. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today joined Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Walter McNeil to announce the creation of the Juvenile Justice Blueprint Commission. The announcement came during an event commemorating April 2-6, 2007, as “Juvenile Justice Week” throughout Florida. The Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice will consist of a volunteer group of private and public stakeholders, citizen leaders, policy experts and advocates. The group will assist the Department of Juvenile Justice in developing recommendations for a comprehensive strategic plan to improve the lives of at-risk youth while ensuring public safety. “Florida’s lifeblood is its children and young people, including those who may have gotten into trouble by taking a wrong turn, making harmful choices or following the bad examples of adults in their lives,” Governor Crist said. “We must always remember that we can never give up on our young people, and this group of concerned citizens and partners will help us create the best possible environment for keeping all of Florida’s young people on the right track.” As the commission develops recommendations for the department, the goal is to provide young people in juvenile justice programs opportunities for success. Government, advocacy and community leaders in attendance to support the initiative include Department of Children and Families Secretary Bob Butterworth, Representative Mitch Needelman (R-Melbourne), the Children’s Campaign Inc. President Roy Miller, Florida Network of Youth and Family Services Board President Karen Brown-Miller, and Florida Juvenile Justice Association Executive Director Cathy Craig-Myers. Also present for the announcement were youth from various programs contracted with the Department of Juvenile Justice in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Tallahassee and Leon County.The commission will build on groundwork laid in 2005 that included a statewide poll indicating that more than 80 percent of Floridians want a juvenile justice system that is balanced, fair and accountable. The Juvenile Justice Blueprint Initiative is a key component in the effort to refocus the mission, vision and guiding principles Department of Juvenile Justice. Currently, the department has drafted new mission, vision and guiding principles for the agency and requested input from the public. The draft mission, vision and guiding principles can be found on the department’s Web site at www.djj.state.fl.us, and input will be accepted through April 6, 2007. For the full release go to: www.myflorida.com.

E-Fair Gives Corridor Companies Access to USF Graduates. The University of South Florida (USF) Career Center has teamed up with a score of other universities from the eastern United States to host the 2007 Big East E-Fair. The E-Fair is an entirely internet-based job fair where thousands of students and alumni from USF and such schools as Notre Dame, Georgetown, Rutgers, and Marquette will be able to search for internships or full-time positions. Running for four weeks, from March 19 to April 16, the Big East E-Fair will allow companies to post job openings, solicit resumes, and communicate directly with potential candidates for a nominal fee. Compared to a traditional job fair, the internet-based E-Fair will also provide for greater accessibility to students and graduates from USF and around the country. Once registered for the Big East E-Fair through MonsterTRAK, employers can post unlimited job listings. Companies looking to recruit talent may register for E-Fair now through the duration of the fair at http://www.eventemanagement.com/bigeast2007. For more information, visit http://www.career.usf.edu.

UCF-Aided Businessman Wins SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year Award (March 26, 2007
By Kellie Snaith). An Orlando businessman whom the Small Business Development Center at UCF has assisted for nine years was named the SBA’s 2007 Small Business Person of the Year for Florida.
Rod Vargas, president of Apex Environmental Engineering & Compliance Inc., was nominated for the award by the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida in recognition of his contribution to the Central Florida business community and his active role as a community leader.
Apex, an Orlando-based company, was founded in 1997 by Vargas and Chris Parent. The company specializes in providing high-quality environmental engineering, construction, environmental health and safety and waste management services from planning and design through project administration and construction management. Apex started with a staff of two and gross revenues of $75,000 in 1997. Today, the company has a staff of 32 professionals, regional offices in Merritt Island and Tampa and $5.2 million in revenues. Eunice Choi, the interim director of the SBDC at UCF who nominated Vargas, said she has “assisted Vargas since 1998, and it is a privilege to witness how impressively his company has grown. He is highly deserving of this award not only because he accomplished so much through his company, but also because he has such a big heart for giving to the community.” Vargas received a management audit from the SBDC shortly after he started his business. The audit examines essential functions such as finances, marketing and human resources. Groups of UCF students later developed a marketing plan and human resources guidelines for Vargas, and he frequently has sought Choi’s advice. In 2006, Vargas graduated from the SBDC’s award-winning Advisory Board Council program, which provides established businesses with no-cost advisory boards comprised of area professionals who volunteer their expertise and experience. For more information, go to www.sbdcorlando.com or call 407-420-4850. See the full story at: http://www.asbdc-us.org/SBDCNews_Florida.pdf.

Work Readiness Forum - Creative Strategies for Solving Workforce Problems. The Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association (SHRA) will host the first-of-its-kind Work Readiness Forum for employers and human resources professionals on Wednesday, April 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at New College of Florida, Sudakoff Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota. Hear about creative strategies and learn effective solutions from industry experts that address workforce-related challenges in our region. The registration fee is $75/person; additional attendees from the same company are $60/each. For more information and to register or pay online, visit www.myshra.org or contact Jennifer LaHurd, SHRA Past President at (941)752-5599, or by email at jenjustla@yahoo.com.

The Nation

NASWA Statement on Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations Sent to Congress. NASWA transmitted testimony detailing its fiscal year 2008 appropriations request to Congress today appealing for a restoration to fiscal year 2005 levels for Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Employment Service (ES) and One-Stop/Labor Market Information (LMI) programs and $300 million more for administration of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program than was requested by the Administration in its fiscal year 2008 Budget request. Download the testimony at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/FY%202008%20-%20NASWA%20Statement.pdf.

NASWA Sends Congressional Panel its Statement on Proposals to Expand UI Benefit Eligibility and Create Wage Insurance Program. NASWA’s comments were submitted in response to a hearing held by the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support on March 15 to discuss the prospects of the UI and wage insurance proposals.
Download the testimony at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/
UI%20Statement%20for%20Record%203%2029%2007.pdf.

VA Searching for Last Doughboys of World War I - Only Four Believed Still Alive. WASHINGTON (April 4, 2007) -- With the number of known living American veterans of World War I now standing at four, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking public assistance in determining whether others are still alive. "These veterans have earned the gratitude and respect of the nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "We are coming to the end of a generation that helped bring the United States to the center of the international arena." Nicholson noted that VA usually knows about the identity and location of veterans only after they come to the Department for benefits. None of the four known surviving World War I veterans has been on the VA benefits rolls. The Secretary asks members of the general public who know of a surviving World War I veteran to contact VA. To qualify as a World War I veteran, someone must have been on active duty between April 6, 1917 and Nov. 11, 1918. VA is also looking for surviving Americans who served in the armed forces of allied nations. Information about survivors can be e-mailed to ww1@va.gov; faxed to 202-273-6702, or mailed to the Office of Public Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs (80), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420. About 4.7 million men and women served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I. About 53,000 died in combat, with another 204,000 wounded. The four known surviving World War I veterans are:

• John Babcock, 102, from Puget Sound, Wash.
• Frank Buckles, 106, Charles Town, W.Va.
• Russell Coffey, 108, North Baltimore, Ohio
• Harry Landis, 107, Sun City Center, Fla.

Babcock is an American who served in the Canadian Army. The other three survivors were in the U.S. Army.

Phase-Out of America's Job Bank impending. USDOL - ETA’s TEN 27-06 informs states and local areas about the phase-out of AJB, scheduled for June 30, 2007, and the transition actions that ETA is conducting. You can find this article and links to the TEN on the Workforce ATM at:
http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=TEN2706.htm.
Employers Gain Access to Database of 2,000 Job Candidates with Disabilities – U.S. Labor Department now offers recruitment resource online and via toll-free number. WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of approximately 2,000 new job candidates with disabilities seeking work in a wide variety of fields. For the first time, federal employers now can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online at WRP.gov, and private sector and other government employers can request unlimited searches by calling (866) 327-6669. "American employers often express that while they want to include people with disabilities in their recruitment efforts, they do not know where to find qualified candidates," said W. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "The Workforce Recruitment Program bridges this divide by bringing pre-screened job seekers - with varied education and experience - directly to employers." The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities, co-sponsored by the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, compiled the database by sending recruiters to more than 250 college campuses to interview eligible undergraduate and post-graduate students. Many of the students are seeking summer internship opportunities, while others have graduated and are looking for permanent employment. In using the database, an employer sets the criteria for each candidate search by specifying location, degree program, position type and length of appointment. Job seekers represent many high-demand fields of study, including accounting, administration, business, communications, computers, criminal justice, education, engineering, human resources/equal employment opportunity, health care, law, the social sciences and the sciences. Hiring officials at federal agencies can access the Workforce Recruitment Program database and conduct independent searches on the Internet by obtaining a password at WRP.gov. Employers in the private sector, and state and local government agencies, should contact the Labor Department's Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network at (866) 327-6669 to access the database. The Workforce Recruitment Program has assisted employers in identifying job candidates with disabilities who meet their recruitment needs since 1995.
Reauthorization of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Other Program Changes. U.S. Department of Labor’s TEGL 20-06, which authorizes the processing of WOTC requests received from January 1 to December 31, 2007, has been issued by ETA. In addition to the extension, the TEGL outlines the major changes in the statute: The earnings test for ex-felons is eliminated, the maximum age for Food Stamp recipients is increased, the certification request filing deadline is increased, and the WtWTC provisions are merged into WOTC. Download TEGL 20-06 at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/TEGL2006.pdf.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the following LETTER REPORT: Vocational Rehabilitation: Earnings Increased for Many SSA Beneficiaries after Completing VR Services, but Few Earned Enough to Leave SSA's Disability Rolls. GAO-07-332, March 30 - http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-332.

FY 2007 HUD Income Limits released (From: HUD USER News 3-23-07). HUD has just released the estimated median family income and income limits for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. The estimates are based on OMB Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and cover 530 metropolitan areas and 2,045 nonmetropolitan areas in the U.S. and its territories. The FY 2007 HUD median family income estimates are derived from 2000 Census data updated with local and state American Community Survey (ACS) data, and county-level earnings data. Separate median family income estimates are calculated for all MSAs and nonmetropolitan counties. For the first time, FY 2007 median family income estimates reflect results from the initial full ACS sample conducted in 2005. HUD's median income estimates are of interest to housing and community development professionals because they are used as the basis for income limits in several HUD programs (including the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, CDBG, and HOME programs), as well as in programs run by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Treasury (Low Income Housing Tax Credits), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Board, and Government Sponsored Enterprises. The FY 2007 HUD income estimates and income limits are available as a free download from HUD USER at: www.huduser.org/datasets/il/il07/index.html. You will also find a link to a new documentation system that explains the derivation of each income limit and area median income estimate, as well as links to the current Income Limit Area Definitions and other information at this location.

HUD SuperNOFA Webcasts, April 3-19, 2007.
Find the webcast schedule here: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/schedule/. View the webcasts here: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm. The webcast will appear the day of the program and live links will appear 30 minutes before the program starts. Note: If you are outside the HUD network, please view our tips and common questions on watching a HUD webcast.

• Tips: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/troubleinst.cfm
• Common questions: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/commquest.cfm

Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and Notices

For additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.

Featured Opportunity:

(none)

State Grants

Florida’s Learn and Serve New and Renewal Grants

Farmworker Housing Recovery Program and Special Housing Assistance

2007 Florida Forever Grant

Federal Grants

Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program (CoC)

Community Services Block Grant Program Community Economic Development Discretionary Grant Program--Operational Projects

Compassion Capital Fund Targeted Capacity-Building Program(Repeat)

Economic Development Assistance Programs (Repeat)

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Program (Repeat)

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants (Repeat)

Food Stamp Participation Program

Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program 2007 Competitive Grants and Cooperative Program (Repeat)

High Growth Job Training Initiative Grants for the Long-Term Care Sector of the Health Care Industry (HGJTI) (Repeat)

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Grants (Repeat)

Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Nuclear Energy Research Initiative for Consortia

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership University Readiness

Foundation Grants

Grants for Programs Serving Children in Need

Scholarships/Awards

(none)

Upcoming Meetings, Conferences and Events

Workforce Florida Board and Related Meetings Schedule:

For up-to-date WFI board meeting info please check the calendar at the WFI website.

April 26 – 27, 2007
Employ Florida Communication Consortium (EFCC) Meeting
Tallahassee, FL
Contact: Lucia Fishburne lfishburne@workforceflorida.com

May 17, 2007
Workforce Florida Board of Directors Meeting
9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: TBA
Contact: Peggy Dransfield pdransfield@workforceflorida.com

Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:

April 14 – 17, 2007
The American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) 87th Annual Convention– A NEW VISION for Community Colleges
Tampa, FL
NEW! For more information and registration go to: http://www2.aacc.nche.edu/annualconvention/index.asp.

April 24, 2007
Workforce3 One Webinar: Promoting Public/Private Partnerships - Outplacement Firms and Rapid Response
1:00pm Eastern (12:00pm/Central, 11:00am/Mountain, 10:00am/Pacific)
http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=180

May 3-4, 2007
The 14th Annual National Foster Care Conference "Footsteps to the Future"
St. Petersburg, Florida
NEW! http://www.danielkids.org/sites/web/content.cfm?id=275

May 8 – 11, 2007
Florida Association for Community Action’s (FACA) 27th Annual Training Conference
FACA: Navigating the Network through the Pathways of Excellence in Community Action
Wyndham Riverwalk Hotel – Jacksonville, FL
For more information go to: www.faca.org.

May 14-15, 2007
Florida Department of Education/Florida Education Foundation’s National Conference
" Redesigning Teacher Compensation: A Blueprint for Success"
Orlando World Center Marriott
Access information at: http://www.fldoe.org/k12/nationalconference/.

May 20-23, 2007
NAWDP Annual Conference: Prospecting for Performance
Sparks, NV
NEW! www.nawdp.org

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 4-7, 2007
2007 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Annual Conference
“ Special Challenges of a New Era”
Washington, D.C.
http://www.nchv.org/annualconference.cfm

June 13-15, 2007
2007 Bridges to Employment Conference
Miami, FL
NEW! (See article in “Odds and Ends” below) For more info go to: http://www.proyectovision.net/english/bridges/.

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

New NCES Report - Literacy in Everyday Life: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) just released Literacy in Everyday Life, the most recent publication of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL). This report provides extensive information on the literacy of American adults age 16 and older and changes in their performance since 1992. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between literacy and several demographic variables including education, occupation, and income. Findings include the following:

• Women have closed the gap with men in Quantitative literacy. They are doing better than men in Document and Prose literacy.
• Younger and older adults have lower literacy than adults in other age groups.
• Median weekly earnings increased with each level of literacy.
• At each higher level of Prose literacy, more adults were employed full time.
• Approximately 51 percent of adults with Below Basic Document literacy and 43 percent with Below Basic Quantitative literacy believed their job opportunities were limited a lot by their lack of computer skills.
• The percentage of parents who never helped their school-age child with homework declined at each higher Prose literacy level.
• Approximately half of US citizens of voting age with Below Basic Prose and Document literacy reported voting in the presidential election of 2000 compared with 84 percent of citizens with Proficient Prose and Document literacy.
  Full results are available at: http://nces.ed.gov/naal/. To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007480.

New from MDRC - Subsidized Housing and Employment: Building Evidence About What Works to Improve Self-Sufficiency. This working paper reviews what is known from research about promoting employment within subsidized housing programs and argues for building a stronger base of evidence through an expanded use of randomized controlled trials.
http://www.mdrc.org/sps/go.cgi?c=gf82NjmENzs5v5dHWTIU.

From Southern Compass -- April 3, 2007:

• Long-Term Study On Early Child Care Offers Mixed Bag Of Results. The most recent analysis from a long-term study funded by the National Institutes of Health found both positive and negative effects from early childcare. While the study found that high quality early child care was linked to better vocabulary scores in the 5th grade, it also found that the more time spent in early child care the more likely 6th grade students were to have been reported by their teachers for problem behavior. Both the positive vocabulary effects and negative behavior effects were said to be small. Researchers found that parenting quality was a much more important predictor of childhood development. For more information, go to http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2007/nichd-26.htm.
• New Report Offers Action Plan for U.S. Education Reform. “Seventy-seven million baby boomers will begin to leave the workforce over the next 10-years. Who will take their place?” asks a new report by the Center for American Progress and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In light of the potential worker shortage, the report lists four action items needed to improve the quality of K-12 education in the U.S.:
  o Better teaching—provide the resources, training, and working conditions for teacher to be effective,
  o More innovation—give federal, state, and district leaders the room to be innovative,
  o Better data—improve the accuracy and depth of the information collected,
  o Better management—use data to hold teachers and policy makers accountable and decision-making.
  The full report, A Joint Platform for Education Reform, is available online at: http://www.uschamber.com/publications/reports/070228education.htm.

Climate change gets new website (Miami Herald – posted 4/2/07). A new website examining climate change and how it will affect Floridians has been created by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Department of Financial Services. The website, www.floridaclimatechange.com, includes graphics explaining which areas will be under water if the sea level rises just one meter or an extreme of eight meters, when fully one half of the state would be claimed by the sea. Even a small rise in sea level would have an impact on South Florida; storm surges would come farther inland, for example. If -- or when -- that becomes a reality, insurance coverage would become an even more consuming issue than it is today. As yet, it hasn't been determined whether the National Flood Insurance program would cover the resulting damage. The website lists links to Florida state and local governments where initiatives are being undertaken, including Miami-Dade's Long Term Carbon Dioxide Reduction Plan. Access this Miami Herald Article at: http://www.miamiherald.com/419/story/61114.html.

Quote for the Week:

“Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or doing it better.”

John Updike

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this web site may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.