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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 5-16-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsWildfires continue – online monitoring resources are available.
Budget - Projects by County online
(St. Petersburg Times). The Legislature has sent the $72 billion budget to the governor,
in a batch of about 20 other bills. This means that Crist's
line-item veto list will be over and done (he has 15 days
to act) before the special session on property tax begins.
The move is somewhat unusual, as the Legislature tends to
hold on to the budget for a few more weeks, sending it to
the governor a bit later in the summer. To access a PDF of
projects by county included in the budget go to: Governor Crist Reappoints Peter Tesch To The Florida
Development Finance Corporation. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie
Crist today announced the following reappointment: The NationHomeowners, Renters and Businesses are Urged To Prepare
for Disaster before it Strikes. WASHINGTON – With above-average
activity predicted for the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane season beginning
June 1, the U.S. Small Business Administration is urging homeowners,
renters and businesses across the country to take steps now
to protect their lives, property and businesses. “The
tornado that devastated Greensburg, Kansas, and the nor’easter
that caused flood losses in several Northeast states are reminders
that no matter where you live, there’s always a possibility
of a major disaster,” said SBA Administrator Steven C.
Preston. “Every threat, from wind storms, floods and
wildfires, to power outages and computer system failures remind
us to be proactive when it comes to having a plan to survive
the disaster and recover quickly.” The SBA stands by,
ready to assist in the event of a disaster. During fiscal year
2006, the SBA approved more than $11 billion in disaster loans.
Most of those loans went to Gulf Coast residents who suffered
losses after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Preparing
for the worst-case scenario will ensure a quicker and less
costly recovery. Hurricane season disaster preparedness for
homes and businesses should include: OT Calculator Released by Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has unveiled a new tool for helping employers and workers understand and calculate overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department's FLSA Overtime Calculator is its latest Internet-based compliance tool. The tool provides examples of how FLSA overtime should be completed under some scenarios. The Overtime Calculator advisor computes overtime pay due in a sample pay period based on information submitted by the user, such as the primary method of pay, additional compensation paid in the form of bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials, and information relating to the hours employees worked. The calculator then totals the hours worked during the sample pay period and calculates the overtime pay due for any overtime hours worked. The tool also provides links to definitions and detailed information on overtime pay requirements. The new OT Calculator can be accessed at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/otcalculator.htm . NASWA Workforce Bulletin - May 11, 2007 Headlines:
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor current information, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:(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. May 16, 2007 WFI Chair Meeting with Regional Board Chairs May 17, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
May 20-23, 2007 May 21-22, 2007 May 29-30, 2007 May 30, 31 & June 1, 2007 June 4 - 5th, 2007 June 4-7, 2007 June 12-15, 2007 June 13-15, 2007 June 23-26, 2007 July 17-19, 2007 Odds and EndsBiotech Network Designed to Expand Region’s Scientific
Work Force - Corporate Participants Contribute to Industry’s
Educational Opportunities (San Diego Business Journal 5/7/07).
The Life Sciences Summer Institute wants to attract what
it considers a “world-class scientific work force” for
San Diego. Developed in 2005 by the San Diego Workforce Partnership
and Biocom, the local life science industry association representing
more than 550 member companies in Southern California, LSSI
connects upper-level high school students, university and
community college students, and high school teachers with
companies within San Diego’s life sciences industries.
Biocom also sponsors a Web site —www.BiocomWorkforce.org— designed
as a one-stop-shop for biotech education and job information
for the region, and for promoting biotech training opportunities
such as the LSSI program. In addition, at the BIO International
Conference held May 6 in Boston, the program was also set
to launch its Biotech Work Portal, which provides access
to a variety of national labor market research reports, and
education and training resources. The information will be
available nationwide, including at 15 regional biotech centers,
according to Ashley Wildrick, LSSI program manager for the
local workforce partnership. LSSI and the Web site are funded
through the partnership by a $2.5 million grant awarded under
the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training
Administration. Access the full article at: http://www.sdbj.com/industry_article.asp?aID=4282937.5959942. Neighbors 4 Neighbors website offers hurricane prep tips and resources. There's no getting around it, the 2007 hurricane season begins in three weeks. We've got lots of tips and important information to help you prepare and recover if a storm comes our way. Pre-registration is necessary for special needs shelters as well as pet shelters, so do it now. Neighbors 4 Neighbors website will constantly be updated with new resources found under our Hurricane Season 2007 page located at: http://www.neighbors4neighbors.org/n4n/index.php?HurricaneSeason2007. Florida ranks No. 2 in April foreclosures (Jacksonville
Business Journal - 10:37 AM EDT Tuesday, May 15, 2007). The
Sunshine State notched the second-largest state total nationwide
in foreclosures last month, according to RealtyTrac's monthly
U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. Foreclosure activity went
up less than 1 percent from the previous month and 71 percent
from April 2006. The state reported 14,318 foreclosure filings
in April, or one filing for every 510 households. The foreclosure
rate ranked seventh in the nation last month, the same as
one month ago, and was 1.5 times the national average. The
nation overall totaled 147,708 foreclosure filings in April
of this year, or one filing for every 783 U.S. households.
Total filings for April were about 1 percent less than March
but showed an increase of 62 percent from April 2006. Foreclosure
filings include default notices, auction sale notices and
bank repossessions. Access this article at: New NCES Report - Event Dropout Rates for Public School Students in Grades 9-12: 2002–03 and 2003–04. The report summarizes and compares event dropout rates for public high school students, by state, for 2002-03 and 2003-04. Event dropout rates included in the report measure the percent of 9th- through 12th-grade students who drop out over the course of a school year. A dropout, as defined for this report, is as an individual who was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year, was not enrolled on October 1 of the current school year, and did not graduate from high school or complete some other district- or state-approved educational program. Among reporting states in 2003-04, the rates ranged from a low of 1.8 percent in Connecticut and New Jersey to a high of 7.9 percent in Louisiana. To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007026. May is National Foster Care Month. This May join Casey Family Programs and 14 of the nation’s largest child welfare agencies in bringing brighter futures to youth in foster care. National Foster Care Month will serve as a platform for connecting vulnerable youth to concerned, nurturing adults who, no matter how much time they have to give, can do something that will change a lifetime for a young person in foster care. For more information on how to get involved visit: http://www.fostercaremonth.org/. Quote for the Week:“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.” Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895 |
