CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends
The State & Regions
Governor Crist Announces Priorities For 2008-09 Budget ~ Fiscally
disciplined $70-billion budget to ensure public safety, increase
access to affordable health care. TALLAHASSEE – Governor
Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp today unveiled
highlights of the Crist/Kottkamp Budget Recommendations for
Fiscal Year 2008-09. Highlights of the proposed $70-billion
budget include ensuring public safety for Floridians, using
market-based strategies to provide health care coverage to
Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured and providing incentives
to spur economic development. Today’s highlights expand
Governor Crist’s previously announced plans to build
Florida’s innovation economy and provide pre-K-12 education
with a $1-billion increase over current spending. The Governor’s
proposed budget preserves critical programs that protect and
assist Florida’s most vulnerable citizens while maintaining
fiscal discipline and strengthening key economic development
programs. “As a nation, we are facing extraordinary economic
times. However, we can be certain that Florida’s brightest
days are ahead of us,” Governor Crist said. “It
is especially important – now more than ever – for
government to spend the people’s money wisely and live
within our means, just as Florida’s families do every
day.”
Keeping Florida’s Economy Vibrant:
Governor Crist’s $12.3-billion budget recommendation
for economic development includes creating jobs through $8
billion in community and infrastructure funding, affordable
housing, community planning, natural disaster mitigation, transportation,
and arts, culture and libraries. To build Florida’s innovation
economy and increase the Sunshine State’s competitive
standing in the global marketplace, the Governor’s budget
recommendations include more than $386 million in economic
development incentives. The proposed budget includes $100 million
to encourage investments in alternative energy as a targeted
economic development industry, and $208.5 million to expand
existing Florida businesses and attract new development in
strong and growing economic sectors, including Florida’s
film and entertainment industry. Building on the landmark legislation
passed last summer, voters approved Amendment 1 to the Florida
Constitution on January 29. The amendment is estimated to save
Floridians $9.3 billion in taxes during the first five years.
To offset any potential impacts to fiscally constrained county
governments, Governor Crist is recommending $26.2 million in
recurring funds, beginning in July 2009. Governor Crist’s
recommendations also proposes continuing Florida’s tradition
of providing week-long sales tax holidays for hurricane preparedness
supplies and back-to-school items that will save Floridians
approximately $46 million in sales taxes.
Energy Diversity:
Governor Crist’s $200-million energy and climate change
package advances the policy framework initiated in three executive
orders signed at the Serve to Preserve Climate Change Summit
in July 2007. The Governor’s policies focus on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and
security, and positioning Florida as a hub of innovation to
develop and commercialize green energy technologies. Later
this afternoon, Governor Crist will further discuss his energy
and climate change budget priorities at Florida Atlantic University
in Boca Raton, where he will observe firsthand ocean energy
research conducted by the university’s Center for Excellence.
Governor Crist’s proposed budget includes $50 million
for solar, wind and other renewable energy; $42.5 million to
promote and develop biofuels in Florida; and $107.5 million
to encourage and develop green industries and strengthen Florida’s
economy.
Strengthening Florida’s Families:
Through efforts of the Florida Department of Children and Families
and its community-based care partners, the number of children
in state foster care is steadily decreasing, and the number
of adoptions is increasing. To maintain this trend, Governor
Crist is recommending $14.9 million for additional adoption
subsidies to allow more special needs children to have permanent
adoptive families rather than remain in foster care. Additionally,
Governor Crist is recommending $16.8 million to provide life
skills training for young adults age 13 to 17 in foster care
and independent living services for young adults age 18 to
23 who have transitioned out of foster care. Governor Crist
recommends $9.8 million to purchase “all-in-one” case
management devices. These handheld devices will be used by
child and adult protection investigators who are dispatched
to homes in order to improve the quality of collected data
and enhance caseworker performance and safety. Finally, Governor
Crist recommends $3 million to fund capital improvement grants
for certified domestic violence centers that will increase
accessibility and safety for victims of domestic violence and
improve efficiency of operations.
Keeping Floridians Healthy:
Based on 2006 U.S. Census data, Florida has the fourth highest
number of uninsured
residents – 3.8 million people, or 21.2 percent of the
state’s population. Governor Crist is actively seeking
a comprehensive, market-based strategy that will provide affordable
and accessible health care for Florida’s citizens. The
Governor also seeks to create a greater safety net for all
uninsured through partnerships between county health departments
and primary care networks in 14 counties with the greatest
need. Governor Crist recommends $63.9 million to make low-cost
health insurance options available to Florida’s uninsured
population. Additionally, Governor Crist recommends $21.8 million
to increase reimbursement fees to dentists by an average of
20 percent. In 2007, Governor Crist called for aggressive interagency
efforts to contact families whose children may be uninsured,
but may qualify for health care coverage through Florida KidCare,
the state’s low-cost, high quality health insurance program
for uninsured children under age 19. As a result, an additional
26,822 uninsured children under age 18 were enrolled in Florida
KidCare Program. To further the Governor’s goal of providing
as many Florida children as possible with access to quality,
affordable health care, Governor Crist recommends $60.6 million
to allow more than 46,000 additional children to be enrolled
in KidCare.
Protecting Florida’s Natural Resources:
In addition to investing $200 million in energy and climate
change initiatives, Governor Crist proposes spending $300 million
to protect and preserve Florida’s environment through
Florida Forever, adding to the nearly 3.6 million acres of
land already in conservation. The Governor also recommends
$200 million to continue the nation’s largest environmental
restoration project, which includes $50 million for the restoration
of Lake Okeechobee, $50 million for its downstream coastal
estuaries and $100 million to fully fund the state’s
annual share of Everglades restoration. As traditional water
sources become overstressed and Southeastern states continue
to experience extraordinary drought conditions, Governor Crist
proposes $60 million for alternative water supply development
to encourage investment in desalination and reclamation and
reuse of storm or waste water. In addition, the Governor is
recommending $25 million to protect water quality and develop
water supplies in West Central Florida as well as $5 million
for the continued implementation of the Florida Keys Wastewater
Management Plan.
Protecting Our Communities:
Governor Crist recommends a public safety budget of $5.2 billion,
which includes $342.9 million for new prison beds needed in
order for convicted criminals to serve the required 85 percent
of their sentences. The Governor also recommends $28.8 million
to significantly expand substance abuse treatment for inmates
and probationers with the goal of preventing offenders from
returning to a life of crime. Governor Crist’s proposed
budget includes $685.9 million to fund successful juvenile
justice programs, including $2.6 million in funding for gender-specific
programs, as recommended by the Blueprint Commission on Juvenile
Justice. Also recommended is $2 million to ensure all juvenile
detention centers are staffed with a full-time registered nurse.
In response to the recommendations made by the statewide grand
jury convened by the Florida Supreme Court at Governor Crist’s
request, he proposes $3 million for grants to assist with prevention,
enforcement and prosecution efforts to combat gang activity.
Governor Crist’s budget recommendations include additional
staff to expand the successful Guardian ad Litem program and
$482,000 to continue maintaining and improving the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement’s Sexual Offender and Predator
registration system.
Providing the Best Education in the Nation:
Last week, Governor Crist released his $33.5 billion education
budget, which provides funding for all phases of education,
including $138 million to fully fund any K-12 reductions that
would occur as a result of voter approval of Amendment 1. The
Governor’s proposed budget would raise per-student funding
5.46 percent – or $394 per student, for a total of $7,606.
The proposed budget also includes $467 million in bonuses for
teachers who improve student achievement and sharpen their
teaching skills through national peer review. Governor Crist
also proposes funds for virtual tutors and additional reading
coaches as well as incentive funds to encourage middle school
physical education.
Governor Crist’s proposed higher education budget includes
$5.42 billion for state universities and community colleges
and calls for no tuition increase. The Governor recommends
a $52-million increase for new student enrollment at Florida’s
11 state universities and $23 million for medical schools at
Florida State University, Florida International University
and University of Central Florida. He also plans a $56-million
increase to community colleges’ annual budgets to help
meet needs created by enrollment growth.
For the complete release go to: http://www.flgov.com/release/9816.
For a the PPT presentation go to: http://www.flgov.com/budget/08-09_budgetrecs.pdf.
To access the detailed budget go to: http://peoplesbudget.state.fl.us/.
Statement By Workforce Florida President Chris Hart
Regarding Governor Crist’s 2008-2009 Budget Recommendations: “The
gains Florida has made and continues to make in attracting
and retaining high-value businesses are inextricably linked
to our state’s ability to deliver a highly skilled and
capable workforce. With $2 million for Employ Florida Banner
Centers and an additional $2 million for the state’s
Quick Response Training program, today’s budget recommendations
by Governor Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp
demonstrate their strong and continuing commitment to developing
world-class talent in Florida. A part of the state’s
economic development plan, Banner Centers support the creation
of cutting-edge training—shaped by industry—in
Florida’s key sectors including life sciences, aviation/aerospace,
health sciences and energy, among others. The Quick Response
Training program, which would receive $7 million in total funding,
advances job creation by supporting business relocation and
expansion as well as investment in upgrading employees’ skills.
For every dollar of state investment in Quick Response Training
grants, companies invest $14.34 in training. Both initiatives
are critical to our state’s efforts to maintain a globally
competitive workforce.” For more information on these
workforce initiatives, go to EmployFlorida.com. Workforce Florida,
Inc., (WFI) is the state's chief workforce policy organization
and principal architect in the efforts to meet the current
and future workforce needs and challenges of Florida's businesses
and citizens. WFI is a state partner, along with the Agency
for Workforce Innovation, in the Employ Florida affiliate network
of 24 business-led regional workforce boards and nearly 100
One-Stop Career Centers that provide employment solutions throughout
Florida. Learn more about Florida’s workforce resources
and solutions at www.EmployFlorida.com.
Governor Joins Top Education, Business And Workforce
Leaders At Orlando Summit ~ Three-Day Summit Promotes Education And
Innovative Florida Marketplace. ORLANDO – Governor Charlie
Crist last Friday reaffirmed his commitment to the future of
Florida’s economy at the 2008 Governor’s Summit
on Education, Workforce and Economic Development. Governor
Crist joined Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Monesia
T. Brown and Workforce Florida President Chris Hart as they
hosted the event featuring distinguished education, business
and workforce leaders from across the state and country. “I
am committed to continuing Florida’s success in building
an innovation economy that is even more viable in the global
market,” Governor Crist said. “We recognize that
our efforts to provide world-class education and to support
the entrepreneurial spirit must work together to create economic
opportunity for the people of Florida.” Friday’s
event concluded the three-day summit aimed at developing innovative
strategies to keep Florida’s economy strong and its workforce
prepared for a highly-educated future marketplace. The first
two days of the summit emphasized Florida’s Early Learning
program. Early learning professionals collaborated to form
partnerships and community action plans, developing a collective
mission to serve the youngest Floridians and cultivate their
abilities into world-class talent. “To remain a leader
in the global marketplace, we must continue to be dedicated
to providing a highly educated and skilled workforce,” said
Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “This
summit emphasizes our commitment to enhancing partnerships
and creating new innovative strategies to ensure a successful
and prosperous outlook for future generations.” Governor
Crist’s keynote address culminated the week’s activities.
The Governor spoke about quality education and its role in
economic development. In addition, the Governor emphasized
his commitment to keep Florida’s economy vibrant. Along
with the Agency for Workforce Innovation and Workforce Florida
Inc., other state entities participating in the summit included
the Department of Education, the Office of Tourism, Trade and
Economic Development, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise
Florida. The theme, Partnerships and Possibilities, emphasized
the importance of aligning multiple agencies, organizations
and communities to enhance services to the people of Florida
and keep the state’s economy competitive. It is anticipated
that video clips from the summit will be available next week
on both the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s website
and the Workforce Florida web sites at www.WorkforceFlorida.com.
3rd Annual Heart Of Florida Job Fair. (January 25, 2008) OCALA,
Fla. – CLM Workforce Connection will host the 3rd Annual
Heart of Florida Job Fair on February 23, from 10 a.m. – 2
p.m. The event will be held at the Paddock Mall in Ocala. Approximately
15,000 visitors pass through the mall on any given Saturday
and employers are eager to reach these potential job candidates.
This job fair targets the unemployed and underemployed candidates
that are not able to attend weekday events. With the unemployment
rate at five percent, Workforce wants to reach every available
candidate possible. Interested candidates will have an opportunity
to apply on site at the Paddock Mall with approximately 20
employers hiring for immediate needs. Candidates are asked
to pre-register for the event at www.clmworkforce.com in the
Calendar of Events section. Those who cannot attend but would
like more information about CLM Workforce Connection may call
352-840-5700 in Marion County, or toll free 1-800-434-JOBS.
Any business interested in recruiting at the job fair should
contact Dale French at 352-873-7939 ext. 2204, or register
online at www.clmworkforce.com in the Calendar of Events section.
CLM Workforce Connection is a member of the Employ Florida
network of workforce services and resources. An Equal Opportunity
Employer/Program, Workforce welcomes people with disabilities.
For accommodations call the local Workforce office or (352)
840-5700 ext. 1278. Florida Relay users should dial 711.
The Nation
NASWA Workforce Bulletin Headlines - January 25, 2008:
- ECONOMIC STIMULUS --TOP PRIORITY FOR CONGRESS
- SENATOR
KENNEDY INTRODUCES UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION
- ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN
PREDICTED BY CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
- NEW STUDY ON
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
- STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RISES IN 2007
- WEB LINK AVAILABLE: UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, STATE LAW COMPARISON
- WEB LINK AVAILABLE: UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE DATA
- REGISTER NOW FOR NASWA WINTER POLICY FORUM
IN WASHINGTON ON MARCH 12-14, 2008
Access the complete stories at: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/members/
bulletin/bulltemp.cfm?results_art_filename=bu012508.htm.
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
and Notices
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.
February 13, 2008
Executive Directors Meeting (Partners)
10:00am - 12:00pm
DoubleTree Hotel
Tallahassee, FL
Career Council Meeting
1:00pm - 3:00pm
DoubleTree Hotel
Tallahassee, FL
Legislative Committee Meeting
3:30 – 5:00
DoubleTree Hotel
Tallahassee, FL
February 14, 2008
Board of Directors Meetings
8:00am - 12:30pm
DoubleTree Hotel
Tallahassee, FL
Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
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 1, 2008
Workforce3 One Webinar: Energy Industry and Construction and
Skilled Trades in the Energy Industry Virtual Prospective
Applicant Conference
2:00pm Eastern (1:00pm Central) - Length: 120 minutes
NEW! Register at: http://www.workforce3one.org/public/webinars/details.cfm?id=279
February 4-5, 2008
The 2nd Annual Camillus House Institute of Homeless Studies
Symposium: Applying Research to End Homelessness
Miami, FL
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 “New
Ideas on Educating a Workforce in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency”
UPDATED INFO! Hudson Valley Community College
Albany, New York
https://www.hvcc.edu/energyconference/.
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
From SOUTHERN COMPASS - JANUARY 29, 2008:
- Conference Notice: Transition To A
Bioeconomy. The US Department of Agriculture and the Farm
Foundation are hosting the
conference Transition to a Bioeconomy - Integration of
Agricultural and Energy Systems. The conference will
be February 12-13, 2008 at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel
in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference will focus on "the
integration of agricultural and energy systems... It
will explore farming systems, markets for by- and co-products,
potential impacts of the bioeconomy on animal agriculture,
energy efficiency and biotechnology." To learn more
and register, go to http://www.farmfoundation.org/projects/08-18Bioeconomy.htm.
- The Risk Of Innovation: Will Anyone Embrace
It? G. Paschal
Zachary of Stanford ponders the nature of customers
and innovation
in a thought piece from the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/business/20ping.html?
ex=1201496400&en=b46ae73524f8200e&ei=5070&emc=eta1.
- What Is The Most Innovative Education Institution
In The U.S.? “The community-college movement in the
United States has been one of the most creative, productive
and
generally successful education initiatives anywhere on
the planet,” according to a recent Chronicle Review.
To support this statement, the author points to the accessibility
of community colleges and their ability to educate non-traditional
students. Community colleges, as the author suggests, might
be the resource that America needs to retrain the existing
workforce as baby boomers retire. For more information,
visit
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/trachtenberg/the-two-year-college-experience.
- Changes In America’s Labor Force And Its Implications
For The American Economy. The St. Louis Federal Reserve
Bank research, Changing Trends in the Labor Force: A
Survey, examines
shifts in the nation’s labor force since the 1950’s
and how recent trends may impact the American economy.
Women and minorities represent a far larger percentage
of workers
than they did fifty years ago raising America’s living
standards, as measured by per capita income, and labor
force participation rates. Despite a steady increase in
workforce
participation rates between 1950-2000, economists noted
a slight decline from 2000-2006. Researchers suggest that
two
main factors may continue to exert downward pressure on
the participation rate: falling teen LFPR—which is
projected to decline from 43.9 percent in 2004 to 39.3
percent in 2014—and
the aging of the baby-boom generation. For more information
visit http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/08/01/DiCecio.pdf.
Quote for the Week:
"Chance
is always powerful.
Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least
expect it, there will be a fish."
Ovid (43 BC - 17 AD) |
