CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
AirTran Retains Headquarters in Orlando, Plans 121
New Jobs. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today applauded
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, for choosing
to maintain its corporate headquarters in Orlando, the base
of its operations since 1998. The company also plans to add
121 jobs to its near 300-person workforce in Orlando, with
salaries averaging $45,000 for the new positions. "This
is great news for our state since the aviation industry and
headquarters operations are critical to our plans for economic
growth,” said Governor Crist. “I am thankful to
AirTran for realizing the value of continuing its business
base in Florida, and I congratulate our partners at the Greater
Orlando Aviation Authority and the City of Orlando for their
successful efforts in retaining this business that is important
to the Central Florida market as well as the state.” AirTran’s
decision to remain in Florida culminated a period during which
it considered other states for its headquarters site. The reason
prompting the change was its need for a venue suitable to developing
a new, hurricane-ready facility to house its national Systems
Operations. AirTran’s current control center suffered
extensive damage from Hurricane Charley in 2004. “Orlando
will remain our nerve center for our fast-growing network,
as well as our headquarters city,” said Robert L. Fornaro,
AirTrain Airways president and chief executive officer. “We
are proud to call Orlando home. Orlando is a great city with
a business friendly climate, growing business and leisure passenger
base and livability. It’s a place skilled crew members
want to come to work and raise their families – and we’d
like to thank Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Enterprise Florida,
the City of Orlando, the Metro Orlando Economic Development
Commission and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority for forming
a partnership that will benefit AirTran Airways and, we believe,
Central Florida for many, many years.” In line with Florida’s
five-year strategic plan for economic growth and diversification,
Enterprise Florida president and CEO John Adams stressed that
AirTran is a key part of the businesses and training centers
that collectively reflect the strength of the state’s
targeted aviation sector. “We’re the air transportation
hub of the Western Hemisphere,” Adams emphasized. Currently,
more than 1,400 aviation companies with services such as flight
training, maintenance, repair/overhaul and air cargo reside
in Florida. Florida’s leadership in the aviation industry
is demonstrated by the following facts:
•
Florida has more than 3.2 million aircraft takeoffs and landings
annually.
•
Florida is the leading gateway for both passengers and cargo.
•
Florida has the third largest maintenance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) cluster in the nation.
•
Florida ranks third nationally in passenger numbers, with 136
million a year.
•
Florida is one of the most popular destinations in the world,
with more than 42 million air passengers each year.
Florida's Minimum Wage Increases. Florida's minimum
wage is $6.79 per hour, effective January 1, 2008. This is up from
the $6.67 per hour minimum wage in 2007. On November 2, 2004,
Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment which created
Florida’s minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to all
employees in the state who are covered by the federal minimum
wage. Florida law requires the Agency for Workforce Innovation
to calculate a new minimum wage each year and publish the new
minimum wage on January 1. The current minimum wage represents
a 1.85 percent change in the federal consumer price index for
urban wage earners and clerical workers in the South Region
for the 12-month period prior to September 1, 2007. Florida's
minimum wage is $.94 more than the current federal minimum
wage of $5.85. In deciding whether the federal or state minimum
wage applies, federal law directs that businesses must pay
the higher of the two. The Florida minimum wage will prevail
over the federal rate until such time as the federal minimum
wage becomes higher than the state rate. Employers must pay
their employees the hourly state minimum wage for all hours
worked in Florida. The definitions of "employer," "employee" and "wage" for
state purposes are the same as those established under the
federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers of "tipped
employees" who meet eligibility requirements for the tip
credit under the FLSA, may count tips actually received as
wages under the FLSA. However, the employer must pay "tipped
employees" a direct wage. The direct wage is calculated
as equal to the minimum wage ($6.79) minus the 2003 tip credit
($3.02), or a direct hourly wage of $3.77 as of January 1,
2008. Employees who are not paid the minimum wage may bring
a civil action against the employer or any person violating
Florida's minimum wage law. The state attorney general may
also bring an enforcement action to enforce the minimum wage.
FLSA information and compliance assistance can be found at:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/compliance/comp-flsa.htm. Florida Statutes
require employers who must pay their employees the Florida
minimum wage to post a minimum wage notice in a conspicuous
and accessible place in each establishment where these employees
work. This poster requirement is in addition to the federal
requirement to post a notice of the federal minimum wage. Florida's
minimum wage poster is available for downloading in English
and Spanish from the Agency for Workforce Innovation's website
at: http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/fl_min_wage.html.
The federal poster can be downloaded from the U.S. Department
of Labor website at: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/flsa.htm.
On May 25, 2007, President George W. Bush signed legislation
increasing the federal minimum wage. The new federal minimum
wage increases in a three-step process as follows:
Florida’s Unemployment Rate Rises, Remains Below National
Average ~ State job growth equals pace of national rate. TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s
seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in November
2007, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous month. The
national unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in November 2007.
Florida had the third lowest unemployment rate of the ten most
populous states, based on the latest nationwide data, and has
been below the national average since mid-2002. The November
unemployment rate in Florida represents 396,000 jobless out
of a labor force of 9,294,000. Florida’s nonagricultural
employment growth rate was 1.1 percent in November, representing
90,200 new jobs over the year. This equaled the national job
growth rate for November. Nonagricultural employment in November
increased to a total of 8,149,400 jobs from the October total
of 8,144,400. Based on the latest nationwide data, Florida
ranked third in job growth rate among the ten most populous
states, behind Texas and Georgia. Florida ranked second among
the ten most populous states in the number of new jobs over
the year, behind only Texas. “The Agency remains committed
and ready to serve Floridians through education, training and
workforce programs,” said Monesia T. Brown, Director
of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “Throughout the
state’s nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers, we are enhancing
our re-employment services to meet the needs of the people
of Florida.” To locate Florida’s employment resources
and services visit EmployFlorida.com. To access this complete
press release visit: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf.
The highly anticipated December employment numbers will be
released on January 18th at 10:00am.
The Nation
Green Jobs Act Signed Into Law. On Wednesday, December
19, President Bush signed the Green Jobs Act of 2007, authorizing
$125 million for green job training programs across the country. Specifically, H.R. 6: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection,
and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 is intended to move the United
States toward greater energy independence and security, to
increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect
consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings,
and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse
gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy
performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Section 277, related to green job training, amends the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Labor to establish
an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program
that includes: (1) assistance to support national research
to develop labor market data and to track future workforce
trends resulting from energy-related initiatives; (2) National
Energy Training Partnerships Grants to develop an energy efficiency
and renewable energy industries workforce; (3) grants for states
to administer labor market and labor exchange informational
programs; and (4) grants for states administer renewable energy
and energy efficiency workforce development programs. Access
more information on the complete law at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6&tab=summary.
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
(Engrossed Amendment
as Agreed to by Senate) Appropriations Bill HR 3043 Labor/HHS
(including rescission). Access online at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr497.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment
and Training Emily Stover DeRocco to leave post in January. WASHINGTON
12/20/08. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced
that Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training
Emily Stover DeRocco will leave her post in January. DeRocco
has spent more than six years repositioning the nation's
workforce investment system for the globally competitive
economy. "America's workers and employers have had a
steadfast friend in Emily Stover DeRocco, who always has
understood that it is essential to prepare our workforce
for the rewarding opportunities that lay ahead," said
Secretary Chao. "Emily transformed a $10 billion social
services agency into an economic development driver actively
working to enhance workers' talents and prosperity. Her distinguished
service will be missed by her colleagues in the Administration
and scores of partners in workforce and economic development
circles. The impacts of globalization and technology have
made this period in our history one in which development
of a more highly educated and skilled American worker is
critical to the nation's competitiveness in the world economy," said
DeRocco. "Our initiatives to enhance the employment
and advancement opportunities for American workers have included
creating High Growth Job Training Initiative partnerships,
building the capacity of community colleges, and fueling
talent development strategies in regional economies." "It
has been a privilege and an honor to serve the American people
under President Bush's and Secretary Chao's leadership," said
DeRocco. "I am grateful for and proud of the Employment
and Training Administration's career officials and the colleagues
I have worked with across the country." As assistant
secretary of labor for employment and training, DeRocco represented
the United States in numerous international forums, and was
named to and led boards and commissions in areas ranging
from the future of the aerospace industry to the aging of
the American workforce. Among her responsibilities, she chaired
the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of
Higher Education's panel on education and the workforce,
and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Interagency Working
Group on Manufacturing Education and Workforce Committee.
She also vice chaired the Secretary of Defense's Base Realignment
and Closure Economic Adjustment Committee. DeRocco was nominated
by President George W. Bush on June 21, 2001, and confirmed
by the United States Senate on August 3, 2001. Prior to her
appointment at the U.S. Department of Labor, she served 11
years as executive director and chief operating officer of
the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. During
the 1980s, the Pennsylvania native represented Cabinet officers
at the U.S. Departments of Interior and Energy. DeRocco will
depart her current position on Jan. 3, 2008.
Mathematica Releases Evaluation of the Ticket to Work
Program. Mathematica Policy Research recently released an
evaluation
of the Ticket to Work Program (TTW). The report examines experiences
of Beneficiaries, State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
(VR), Employment Networks (ENs), and the Social Security Administration
(SSA) during the TTW rollout period from 2002-2004. Overall,
Mathematica found that the Ticket to Work Program did not have
a significant impact on the way VR does business or on the
practices of ENs in the community. TTW did, however, begin
a fundamental shift within SSA toward focusing on improving
the earnings of beneficiaries. Other major findings include:
- TTW participation remains low, but continues to rise.
Targeted outreach has the potential to increase growth further.
- Participants who assigned their ticket to ENs instead
of VR received fewer services and were more likely to report
being dissatisfied with the services.
- TTW has not yet
substantially expanded the number of private providers,
nor has it changed the method of service
delivery.
Only 40 percent of registered ENs have ever accepted
a ticket, and only 20 percent of registered ENs have
accepted five
or more tickets. Many ENs are private nonprofits that
provided employment supports under contract with VR
prior to TTW.
- Over 80 percent of VR TTW assignments are through
the traditional cost reimbursement system. VR is
continuing to claim reimbursement
under the methods available prior to TTW, thus the
VR
system has not been substantially impacted. The proposed
TTW changes
will offer strengthened financial incentives to ENs
providing services to beneficiaries.
The full evaluation can be found at http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/TTWpostrolloutvol1.pdf.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
Featured Opportunity:
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.
January 16, 2008
Executive Committee Teleconference
Tallahassee, FL
9:00am - 10:00am
February 13, 2008
Executive Directors Meeting (Partners)
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location TBD
February 14, 2008
Full Board of Directors and Council/Committee Meetings
9:00am - 4:00pm
Location TBD
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
Jan. 15-18, 2008
2008 Effective Strategies Institute
Daytona Beach
Sponsored by the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
(NDPC), the Florida Department of Education, 21st Century Community
Learning Centers of Florida, the University of Florida, Communities
in Schools of Florida, Inc., and the Florida Association of
Alternative School Educators.
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/conferen/conferen.htm#2008_EFI
January 22-25, 2008
FETC 2008—The K-12 Technology Conference
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
http://www.fetc.org/
January 31-February 2, 2008
14th Joint National Conference on Alternatives to Expulsion,
Suspension, & Dropping Out of School
Lake Buena Vista, FL
http://www.uwgb.edu/outreach/alternatives/
February 4-5, 2008
The 2nd Annual Camillus House Institute of Homeless Studies
Symposium: Applying Research to End Homelessness
Miami, FL
NEW! http://www.instituteofhomelessstudies.org/symposium.php
March 11, 2008
Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) 2008 Legislative
Day on the Hill
2nd Floor Rotunda @ The Florida Capitol
Tallahassee, FL
www.faca.org
For more information call (850) 224-4774.
March 18-20, 2008
Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s 2nd National Conference
on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workforce Education
Hudson Valley Community College
Albany, New York
For more information, please contact Jane Weissman at
IREC at jane@irecusa.org or weissmanpv@aol.com or 781-461-8167.
May 13 – 16, 2008
Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) 28th Annual
Training Conference
"
Community Action: Reducing Poverty, Building Stronger Families & Improving
Communities"
Marriott Coral Springs Hotel, Golf Club & Convention Center
Coral Springs, FL
www.faca.org
For more information call (850) 224-4774.
May 18-20, 2008
FEDC/WFI/FWDA Workforce Summit
SAVE THE DATE!
(Location TBD)
More information will be posted to www.fedc.net in the near
future…
July 15-17, 2008
Workforce Innovations 2008
New Orleans, LA
www.WorkforceInnovations.org
Odds and Ends
The "Get Into Energy" Web site. An innovative
and 'high-energy' Web site that features a career assessment
tool, a competencies and skills tool, a salary comparison
tool, and a training and job locator using Google Earth technology.
There is also a series of short career profile videos and
a 90-second overview video introducing users to features
of the site. An Educator section is under construction. The
Center for Energy Workforce Development and its partners
created this Web site using a grant from USDOL’s High-Growth
Job Training Initiative. http://www.getintoenergy.com/.
Score Free Resources. SCORE, “Counselors to America’s
Small Business,” offers three new content areas at
the Web site. The sections provide information, tips and
interactive workshops to help small-business owners.
Homelessness Report Released – Available Online. The
Department of Children and Families, Office on Homelessness
has published the "Council on Homelessness - 2007 Report".
An electronic copy of the report may be obtained at the following
link: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/homelessness/docs/2007annualreport.pdf. Quote for the Week:
"Good resolutions
are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have
no account."
Oscar Wilde |
