 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Workforce Florida Weekly Update 5-30-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsFEDC Conference provides tools and information for economic and workforce development professionals who help Florida “Compete in a World of Change”. The 2007 Annual Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) Conference, June 24-26, at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, is THE statewide conference for economic and workforce development professionals. Conference sessions include:
Governor Crist Encourages Floridians to Prepare for Hurricane Season~ Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday Begins June 1st . TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today encouraged all Floridians to make the final preparations necessary to keep their families, homes, businesses and communities safe during the 2007 Hurricane Season. “The upcoming sales tax holiday is an important opportunity to double-check your disaster supply kit and to review your families’ disaster plan,” said Governor Crist. “We are praying for a quiet summer and fall, but as the first day of hurricane season quickly approaches, it is essential for every Floridian to be prepared for the very real possibility of a storm or other natural disaster.” On April 30, 2007, Governor Crist signed into law House Bill 211 establishing a sales tax holiday from June 1 through June 12, 2007, for hurricane preparedness items. Below are a few examples of items that will be exempt during the sales tax holiday which begins on Friday.
Governor Crist also noted the importance of maintaining a supply of necessary prescription drugs along with special food for infants or elders. He encouraged Floridians to document all valuables and to consolidate important personal documents including, bank account numbers, Social Security cards and immunization records in a waterproof container. “Ensuring that you have medication stored properly now can prevent a critical health emergency during a disaster,” said Governor Crist. “Additionally, while you may have already formed a plan to address your immediate needs following a storm, it is important to plan for recovery by organizing your personal documents.” The Governor stressed the importance of neighbors helping neighbors. He encouraged all Floridians to visit with their neighbors, particularly those with special needs, to help them prepare for hurricane season and to remind them to have a disaster plan. “Selflessness, teamwork and a sense of community have helped Florida through natural disasters time and time again. Serving a cause bigger than yourself is what being a Floridian is all about,” said Governor Crist. “During this time of preparation, I encourage all Floridians to check-in with friends, neighbors and local emergency management centers to find out how you can best help before, during and in the immediate aftermath of a storm.” For more information on the 2007 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday or to find information on building a customized family or business disaster plan, please visit www.FloridaDisaster.org or www.MyFlorida.com. Governor Crist Signs AWI’s Budget into Law ~ Budget emphasizes continued focus on enhancing Florida’s early learning and workforce services. TALLAHASSEE— On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed Florida’s 2007-2008 budget, reaffirming his commitment to Florida’s early learning and workforce services by allocating $1.5 billion in operating budget to the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI). The investment will help ensure that Florida’s early learning and workforce systems continue to provide the highest quality services. “I applaud Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature for continuing to make strategic investments in early learning and workforce services,” said AWI Director Monesia T. Brown. “We are committed to ensuring that our economy continues to grow and produce job opportunities for the people of Florida. At the same time, we are dedicated to helping parents maintain consistent employment and self-sufficiency by providing quality early learning services. This funding will allow us to continue to evaluate and enhance the quality of our early learning and workforce programs, further sustaining Florida’s economic prosperity. We are very pleased with the allocations we have received.” Highlights include the following:
2007 Hurricane Season Preparation Message from AWI to the Workforce System: As we begin to prepare for Florida’s 2007 hurricane season, we ask that you revisit lessons learned from prior years and prepare for the coming season. Please consider reviewing and updating your Disaster Response Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan and Phone Trees. There are a number of resources archived at the Agency’s Emergency website at http://www.floridajobs.org/emergency/emergency.html that may be of assistance. As in past seasons, in the event of a disaster, we will communicate through email and telephone with you and/or your alternate designee. Critical information and other resources will also be posted on the Agency’s Emergency Website. To ensure that we have the most current emergency contact information for your area, I ask that you email Anita Richardson at anita.richardson@awi.state.fl.us the following information for you and your designated alternate:
As always, we look to you for input in improving our preparedness and response activities. Thank you and your team for the support and assistance you’ve provided to the Agency and the citizens we all serve. James Lincoln Finch, Agency for Workforce Innovation, Emergency Coordinating Officer. National Hurricane Survival Initiative offers informative website. MIAMI - The 2007 hurricane season is less than a week away. Despite devastating hurricane seasons in the last few years, a startling national survey will show a dangerously high percentage of residents in hurricane-vulnerable states still are not adequately informed or prepared to protect their families and homes. The survey results will be released at a news conference at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, May 31, which also will serve as the nationwide launch of the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, an educational campaign to promote vital hurricane awareness and preparedness. The “National Hurricane Survival Initiative,” is a partnership of the National Hurricane Center, The Salvation Army, the National Emergency Management Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The State of North Carolina and our corporate sponsors Plylox, Travelers Insurance, and AT&T. This initiative aims to build hurricane knowledge through an informative Web site, www.hurricanesafety.org, radio and television public service announcements, and the Emmy Award-winning 30-minute television special “National Hurricane Survival Test” – which will air on television network affiliate and cable stations from Maine to Texas. News release and full poll report will be available at www.hurricanesafety.org at 10 a.m. on May 31st. Florida CommuterServices.com promotes 2007 Increases in Tax Free Benefits for Commuters - Employers may provide workers with up to $110 per month in tax-free transit and vanpool benefits in 2007. According to Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2006-53, for taxable years beginning in 2007, the monthly limitation under Section 132(f)(2)(A) Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits regarding the aggregate fringe benefit exclusion amount for vanpools (commuter highway vehicles) and transit passes is $110 (up from $105 in 2006) The monthly limitation under Section 132(f)(2)(B) regarding the fringe benefit exclusion amount for qualified parking is $215 (up from $205 in 2006). Commuters can receive both the transit and parking benefits (i.e., up to $325 per month). Employers can allow employees to use pretax dollars to pay for transit passes, vanpool fares and parking. The IRS link where you can obtain a copy of the new rates is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-06-53.pdf. These new limits are found under section .13 "Qualified Transportation Fringe". To learn more about this and Florida CommuterServices.com go to http://www.commuterservices.com/. The purpose of Florida's commuter assistance program is to provide travel choices to ensure mobility, sustain the quality of the environment, preserve community values and reduce energy consumption. The goal of the website is to provide easy access to the FREE services offered by various commuter assistance programs in Florida. Some of these organizations are part of a transit agency or a non-profit corporation. www.commuterservices.com. Council Names Manager of Year - Lisa Rice takes group's
top honor (By Wayne T. Price, Florida Today). Lisa Rice, president
and executive director of the Brevard Workforce Development
Board Inc., is this year's recipient of Brevard County Manager
of the Year Award, presented by the Florida Space Coast Council
of the National Management Association. She will receive the
award at a banquet on June 6 at Gregory's Restaurant in Cocoa
Beach. Prior to heading up the Workforce Development Board,
Rice served as its director of planning and development. Before
that, she was a board member of the organization, and was a
committee chairwoman for five years. Rice -- who, along with
her husband, lives in Rockledge -- also has been a past chairwoman
for Leadership Brevard. She served as special projects administrator
for H.O.P.E./Health First; and director of healthy community
programs for Parrish Medical Center. She also served as legislative
assistant to former state Rep. Harry Goode Jr. -- now the mayor
of Melbourne -- and before that was an assistant to former
state Sen. Winston "Bud" Gardner Jr. At the Brevard
Workforce Development Board, Rice is responsible for leading
the organization in the direction set by a board of directors
and all areas of management. The latter duties include budgeting,
contracting, reporting outcomes of service delivery, systemwide
technology infrastructure and community relations. Rice, who
oversees a staff of 20 at the Workforce Development Board,
said she enjoys seeing her staff work together on a project
seamlessly without much oversight. "They come together
as a team," Rice said. Her best piece of management advice
came while she was working for the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service in England. A British woman told her that whenever
you look at people who work for you, make sure you mine their
talents and see "what they can do best for you." (Florida
Today © 05/30/2007) http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? US Interagency Council on Homelessness features the
recent successes of Gainesville/Alachua County 10-Year Plan
in its
national newsletter on “Innovative Solutions to End Homelessness.” GAINESVILLE,
FLORIDA. Like the successful back-to-back NCAA men’s
basketball championship efforts of their hometown University
of Florida Gators, Gainesville and Alachua County leaders will
be looking to repeat the success of their first year 10-Year
Plan implementation. Recently reported results from the latest
Point-in-Time count reveal an 18.3% decrease in chronic homelessness
and an overall 20% decrease in homelessness from January 2006
to January 2007, the first year of their 10-Year Plan implementation.
The Gainesville/Alachua County 10-Year Plan was adopted in
December 2005 after six months of planning and research by
nearly 200 key community stakeholders. United States Interagency
Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano,
who participated in both the initial Homelessness Summit at
which the planning process was launched and the plan's unveiling
just a few months later, complimented the community at the
unveiling for "mastering the art of legitimate larceny
of good ideas and best practices from plans around the country." Proceeding
to implement these best practices, the city and county have
allocated nearly $400,000 to the plan and an additional $200,000
has been received from a local private benefactor. A partnership
of the City, County, and the Alachua Housing Authority has
created an Office of Homelessness being led by Jon DeCarmine
to oversee and coordinate plan implementation. A site for a
One-Stop Service Center has been secured and a consortium of
social service agencies led by the local mental health services
agency selected to operate the Center which will be operational
by January 2008. Additionally,
The NationPresident Bush Signs Iraq War Supplemental Setting in Motion an Increase to Minimum Wage. President Bush on May 25 signed an Iraq war supplemental spending bill that also included language that would increase the minimum wage in phases. Under the bill, the minimum wage would increase from its current level of $5.15 an hour to $5.85 an hour within 60 days of enactment and to $7.25 an hour within two years of enactment. Access this 107 page document at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/h2206enr.pdf. GAO releases report titled “Vocational Rehabilitation: Improved Information and Practices May Enhance State Agency Earnings Outcomes for SSA Beneficiaries”. State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, under the Department of Education (Education), play a crucial role in helping individuals with disabilities prepare for and obtain employment, including individuals receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). In a prior report (GAO-05-865), GAO found that state VR agencies varied in the rates of employment achieved for SSA beneficiaries. To help understand this variation, this report analyzed SSA and Education data and surveyed state agencies to determine the extent to which (1) agencies varied in earnings outcomes over time; (2) differences in state economic conditions, client demographic traits, and agency strategies could account for agency performance; and (3) Education’s data could be used to identify factors that account for differences in individual earnings outcomes. To read the full report GAO-07-521, May 23 go to: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-521. For the highlights go to: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07521high.pdf. Affordable Housing Needs 2005 Report. HUD's Office of Policy
Development and Research recently released the tenth in a series
of reports to Congress on worst case needs for housing assistance.
Affordable Housing Needs 2005: Report to Congress looks at
the extent of "worst case need," which is defined
as unassisted renters with very-low incomes (under 50 percent
of the area median) who either pay half or more of their income
for housing, or who live in severely substandard housing. The
report also describes the population experiencing worst case
need, and identifies trends and the geographic locations of
this need. The report is based on data from the HUD-sponsored
2005 American Housing Survey, which was conducted by the U.S.
Bureau of the Census. Included in the report is an analysis
of data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation,
which examines the duration of severe NASWA Workforce Bulletin - May 25, 2007 Headlines:
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor current information, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:Self-Employment Project Accepting Applications for New Teams. The Micro-Enterprise Training and Technical Assistance (METTA) project sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disability Council is currently accepting applications. This year, METTA will support (3) Regional Teams to develop strategic plans that will ensure continued access to and education about micro-enterprise for individuals with developmental disabilities. Additionally, METTA will assist each of these teams to support one entrepreneur throughout the process of developing a business plan. The application deadline is June 22, 2007. Download the application for Micro-Enterprise Training & Technical Assistance Entrepreneur Application at: http://www.fddc.org/Announcements/METTA/METTA Y3 Ent App.doc. Down load the applications for Micro-Enterprise Training and Technical Assistance Florida Center for Inclusive Communities University of South Florida Application at: http://www.fddc.org/Announcements/METTA/METTA Y3 Team App.doc. For any questions, please feel free to contact Beth Keeton, Project Director, at Bkeeton@fmhi.usf.edu or (813) 974-0632. 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. June 20, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
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 EndsState Early Childhood Policy Profiles website. The National Center for Children in Poverty has produced a Web site that allows users to examine profiles of various aspects of State Early Childhood Policy. The profiles highlight states' policy choices alongside other contextual data related to the well-being of young children. http://www.ecs.org/00CN3493 FIRST STEPS Revised is Now Available. First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities, arguably the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council’s most popular publication ever, has been revised and updated with new and relevant information of critical value to any parent or family member of a young child with a developmental disability. The publication is available in both English and Spanish, as well as in a full color version and a black and white version – both are in Acrobat Reader format (PDF) and available in two sections – Chapters 1 to 5 and Chapters 6 to 10 – for your convenience downloading the publications. Printed and bound copies are available while supplies last. Contact via email Misty Grimm at mistyg@fddc.org or Vanda Bowman at vandab@fddc.org and be sure to include your name, complete address, your phone number, and the language and number of publications you’re requesting. Or call toll free at 800-580-7801 (in Tallahassee at 850-488-4180). The FDDC is very proud of this publication and looking forward to reading and hearing your comments about it. To download First Steps: A Guide for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities, please go to: http://www.fddc.org/LINKS/First%20Steps.asp. Nick Lachey Packs for Hunger! On June 5, 2007 communities across the country will remember more than 35 million Americans suffering from hunger or food insecurity by recognizing Hunger Awareness Day. This Year, some key celebrities are stepping up and "Goin' Home for Hunger" for Hunger Awareness Day. Designed as a campaign to link stars with their hometown food bank, "Goin' Home for Hunger" is sending leading actors and actresses, musicians and other personalities back to where they grew up. Among the first to sign up - singer and Cincinnati native Nick Lachey! You too can go home for hunger! Find your local Food Bank and learn how you can participate in a Hunger Awareness Day Event by visiting the web at: http://www.hungerday.org/a2h/directory.php. Quote for the Week:“In summer, the song sings itself.” William Carlos Williams |
