 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Workforce Florida Weekly Update 12-19-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsGovernor Crist Announces the Establishment of The
Florida Max Planck Institute Of Bio-Imaging. TALLAHASSEE – Governor
Charlie Crist yesterday joined Senate President Ken Pruitt
and Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO of the Max Planck Society
based in Munich, Germany, to announce the creation of the Florida
Max Planck Institute of Bio-imaging in Jupiter. “The
announcement of the Institute today is a testament to the dynamic
synergy that exists between Max Planck Society and Florida’s
leadership in the global effort to cure diseases and improve
human health,” said Governor Crist.” Florida’s
leadership in life sciences will only continue to grow.” The
Institute, which will be located on the campus of Florida Atlantic
University, will support approximately 1,824 positions directly
and indirectly, over a 20-year period and will generate $2.4
billion in labor compensation and $5.3 billion in gross state
product in its first 20 years of operation. Space Florida to Assist Planetspace with NASA Bid (12/18/07
Orlando Business Journal). Space Florida has agreed to assist
PlanetSpace in its efforts to develop an orbital launch facility
at Cape Canaveral. The facility, which could provide up to
346 new jobs, is part of PlanetSpace's attempt to develop commercial
orbital transportation services as part of a request for proposals
issued by NASA. The project would include manufacturing, training
and research and development facilities expected to generate
an economic impact of $313 million annually to the state. Space
Florida is working with PlanetSpace to assist in any possible
planned future commercial space launches near Kennedy Space
Center, says Steve Kohler, president of Space Florida. PlanetSpace
is partnering with Lockheed Martin, ATK and financial advisor
BMO. The consortium has also signed agreements with United
Launch Alliance, Wyle Laboratories, Paragon Space Systems and
MEHTA Engineering. The team has submitted their proposal in
response to NASA's transportation services Phase 1 request
for proposals to demonstrate cargo and crew delivery capability
to the International Space Station. PlanetSpace is a Chicago-based
company in the emerging space commercialization business. PlanetSpace
is developing commercial space services that include cargo
and crew services to the International Space Station, space
tourism, satellite orbital delivery and point-to-point global
travel. Created by the Florida Legislature, Space Florida is
a public-private organization that promotes aerospace economic
development in Florida. The organization serves as the single
point of contact for private sector aerospace firms looking
to do business with state and federal agencies. Governor Charlie Crist Appoints New Deputy Chief of Staff ~ Shane Strum to Join the Crist Administration. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today appointed Shane Strum to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the Governor. Strum most recently served as the deputy secretary for business operations in the Florida Department of Management Services. “Shane understands the critical business operations of state government, and his private sector experience will be valuable perspective as we advance the people’s agenda in the coming year,” Governor Crist said. “I am proud to welcome his leadership on our team.” As deputy secretary for business operations, Strum has directed a 450-person team that manages state purchasing, real estate development, fleet operations, federal property surplus, correctional privatization and supplier diversity. Prior to serving at DMS, Strum directed new business development for seven years at Blue Frog Solutions, Inc., a Pompano Beach-based finance and insurance technology firm. “Governor Crist has placed great trust in me to serve this administration and to work for the people of Florida,” said Strum. “I will honor that trust by focusing every day on how we can advance our state’s government operations to improve the quality of life of all Floridians.” From 1995-2000, Strum served as the Director of Corporate and Government Affairs for Nova Southeastern University’s Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University. Strum will replace Eric Eikenberg, who was recently named the next Governor’s Chief of Staff. The Suncoast Workforce Board Relocates Offices. The Suncoast Workforce Board offices have moved to Jobs, 3660 N. Washington Boulevard, Sarasota. Our new phone number is (941) 358-4080. The new fax number is (941) 358-4085. The administrative staff's phone extensions remained the same. The NationSerious Material Weaknesses Affecting Financial Systems, Fundamental Recordkeeping, and Financial Reporting. WASHINGTON (December 17, 2007) - For the 11th year in a row, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was prevented from expressing an opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the U.S. government--other than the Statement of Social Insurance--because of serious material weaknesses affecting financial systems, fundamental recordkeeping, and financial reporting. David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of GAO, did note some progress in this year's audit. This year GAO expressed an unqualified opinion on the fiscal year 2007 Statement of Social Insurance, which includes the Social Security, Medicare, Railroad Retirement, and Black Lung programs. This is significant because the statement covers some of the largest numbers in the federal government--tens of trillions of present-value dollars associated with future social insurance expenditures. Overall, however, Walker was not satisfied. In a speech this week at the National Press Club, he said, "If the federal government was a private corporation and the same report came out this morning, our stock would be dropping and there would be talk about whether the company's management and directors needed a major shake-up." Walker urged greater transparency and accountability over the federal government's operations, financial condition, and fiscal outlook. Despite improvements in financial management since the U.S. government began preparing consolidated financial statements more than a decade ago, three major impediments prevent the U.S. government from obtaining a clean opinion: (1) serious financial management problems at the Department of Defense, (2) the federal government's inability to adequately account for and reconcile intra-governmental activity and balances between federal agencies, and (3) the federal government's ineffective process for preparing the consolidated financial statements. "Until the problems outlined in our audit report are adequately addressed, they will continue to have adverse implications for the federal government and American taxpayers," Walker said in a letter to the President and Congress. "The federal government's fiscal exposures totaled approximately $53 trillion as of September 30, 2007, up more than $2 trillion from September 30, 2006, and an increase of more than $32 trillion from about $20 trillion as of September 30, 2000," Walker said. "This translates into a current burden of about $175,000 per American or approximately $455,000 per American household." The fiscal year 2007 Financial Report of the United States Government, which includes financial information from the 24 major federal departments and agencies and GAO's audit report, is being released today by the Treasury Department. It is also available on GAO's web site at http://www.gao.gov/financial.html. U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Promotes Key Public-Private
Partnerships As A Catalyst For Innovation. A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce
report asks, "What state policies can lead to world-class
educational systems? How do states create a high skill labor
force and good jobs? How do governors promote growth in their
local and regional economies?" According to the Chamber,
the answer is innovation, not only from the private sector,
but also from public sector thought leaders and policymakers.
The strongest catalyst for innovation is public-private partnerships,
which help all stakeholders understand economic assets-education
and research capabilities unique to the region-align policies
to support and build those assets through tax incentives and
workforce strategies, and make key investments in K-12 STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math), research and development
and physical infrastructure. The full report, Innovation America:
A Public-Private Partnership is available at: http://www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/e24mvvt6shw7gjx4jbtkazrofb44pfn4u DOL Proposes Rules to Update Apprenticeship System. The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced proposed rules to align the national apprenticeship system with a more flexible and user-friendly approach for apprentices and employers, necessary in the 21st century global economy. "Apprenticeship is a proven model of training that has been expanded beyond its traditional origins in industries such as construction to high growth industries and sectors," said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for Employment and Training. "We have proposed new regulations to reflect the 21st century global economy and the changes that have occurred in apprenticeship programs over the past 30 years." The proposed rules make updates and changes affecting state apprenticeship agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor, and would expand the ways that individuals can advance through apprenticeships. The types of training would expand from one to the following three approaches:
Web Site on Federal Grants, Loans and Contracts Debuts. The Office of Management and Budget rolled out a new Web site Thursday that will provide information on all major federal grants, loans and contracts. The new site, dubbed USASpending.gov, is dedicated to improving transparency by providing the public with information on all major federal transactions. The launch fulfills one of the key requirements of the 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which requires full disclosure on a Web site maintained by OMB of all organizations receiving more than $25,000 in federal funds. Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., co-sponsors of the legislation, applauded the announcement, which Obama called "an important milestone on the path to great government transparency. We can't reduce waste, fraud and abuse without knowing how, where and why federal money is flowing out the door," Obama said. "This site will provide a window into the federal budget so all Americans can see how their tax dollars are being spent." http://www.usaspending.gov/index.php. NASWA Workforce Bulletin Headlines – December 14, 2007
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor current information, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:
|
