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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 02-13-08 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsGovernor Crist Celebrates Opening of Cott Corporation’s ‘Green’ Headquarters ~Bottling company’s new headquarters invests in green materials, technologies. TAMPA – Governor Charlie Crist today continued this week’s environmental focus for the administration. He joined Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Cott Chief Executive Officer Brent Willis and local leaders to celebrate the grand opening of Cott Corporation’s new 60,000 square foot “green” U.S. corporate headquarters. One of the largest nonalcoholic beverage companies in the world, Cott is locating its corporate headquarters in Tampa, which will bring 100 jobs to the community. “Through its leadership, Cott Corporation is serving as a model for businesses around the state,” said Governor Crist. “They are driving Florida’s economy with innovative business development and excellent products while preserving our natural resources by implementing green initiatives.” Cott Corporation’s headquarters in Tampa incorporates a number of “green” products and practices. The company worked with vendors offering products that reduce environmental impacts without compromising design, performance or affordability. Products were purchased that included natural fiber or recycled content and conserve energy. At the corporate headquarters alone, Cott has purchased energy-efficient lighting, PVC free and chlorine free carpet as well as chairs made from 30 percent post-consumer content. “In our endeavors to develop a new world-class corporate headquarters, the decision was made to implement as many ‘green’ products and practices as possible,” said Cott CEO Willis. “Special attention was paid to the selection of products and building materials to ensure reduced environmental impact.” For more than 80 years, Cott has provided innovative, high-quality beverages to consumers worldwide. Today, Cott is the fourth-largest nonalcoholic beverage company in the world and sells product in more than 60 countries, with its principal markets being the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico. www.MyFloridaClimate.com. Governor Crist Appoints Lucia M. Fishburne Film Commissioner of Office of Film and Entertainment. TALLAHASSEE- Governor Charlie Crist this week appointed Lucia M. Fishburne to serve as Film Commissioner of the Office of Film and Entertainment (OFE) within the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED), an agency of the Executive Office of the Governor. “Lucia’s understanding of film and digital media and her experience in the development of Florida’s film industry makes her an excellent choice for this position,” said Governor Crist. OTTED Director Dale A. Brill, Ph.D., added, “Lucia’s background in workforce development and her years of service on our Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council (FFEAC) puts her in a position to lead and enhance film and entertainment’s economic impact on the state.” Fishburne most recently served as the Communication’s Director for Workforce Florida Inc. (WFI) where she assisted in the development and implementation of state-level marketing, communications and public relations strategies for Florida’s workforce system. She has served on the FFEAC for over eight years, which advises the OFE on matters of concern to the film, TV and digital media industries. She was the Executive Director of the Florida Institute for Film Education (FIFE) where she was able to expand her knowledge of the film and entertainment industries and interface with local film commissions statewide. Fishburne holds a master’s degree in Marketing, Communication and Information Technology from Florida State University, with a nationally-recognized Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). “I look forward to serving the citizens of Florida as a part of the Crist team,” said Fishburne, “To continue the growth of the film and entertainment industries in Florida and to serve its workforce and infrastructure.” Fishburne replaces Paul Sirmons, who will continue to serve until Fishburne takes office. Sirmons, who has held the position for two-and-a-half years, is returning to family and faith-based film production in the Orlando area. The Office of Film and Entertainment assists the Governor and Lt. Governor to serve and build Florida’s film, TV and digital media industries in Florida. http://www.flgov.com/. Governor Charlie Crist and Florida Power & Light Dedicate
Florida’s Largest Solar Power Facility~Sunshine Energy
Solar Array will produce clean energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
SARASOTA – Governor Charlie Crist this week joined Florida
Power & Light (FPL) president Armando Olivera for a dedication
ceremony of FPL’s Sunshine Energy Solar Array at Rothenbach
Park in Sarasota County. Also in attendance were Secretary
Mike Sole of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Senator Mike Bennett, local Sarasota County government officials
and leaders in the environmental community. “I am thankful
for the leadership of the Sarasota County government and Florida
Power and Light in partnering to provide alternative methods
of powering our homes and businesses,” Governor Crist
said. “The economic future of our state is linked to
our maintaining its natural beauty, and this solar power facility
is an excellent example that other communities can work to
achieve.” The array, the largest solar power facility
in Florida and the second-largest in the Southeast, consists
of 1,200 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. These panels convert
sunlight into electricity, producing 250 kilowatts of clean
energy, enough energy to power approximately 55 average homes.
Using solar power will prevent the release of more than 654,000
pounds of C02 into the atmosphere each year. The PV panels,
mounted at ground level, cover more than 28,000 square feet,
or about half the size of a football field. Construction of
the array was made possible by FPL’s Sunshine Energy
program, a voluntary green power program offered as a choice
for FPL residential and commercial customers who want to support
cleaner, renewable electric generation. Since Sunshine Energy’s
inception in 2004, more than 37,000 FPL residential and business
customers have enrolled in the program, which has prevented
756 million pounds of C02 from entering the atmosphere. That
is comparable to removing 67,000 cars from the road today.
For more information about Governor Crist’s initiative
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, please visit www.flgov.com.
“ Florida voters clearly recognize the great potential of Florida’s economy - if we think and act quickly now,” said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “That is why Florida’s 2008 Business Agenda and the work that will take place during this Session is critical to Florida’s continued economic success.” The Florida Chamber’s agenda highlights issues that are essential to job creation and the future of Florida’s diversified economy. This year, it covers 19 key legislative priorities, such as constitutional amendment reform, economic development, education and workforce, insurance, energy solutions, tax and tax regulation, transportation, and private property rights. The priorities of this year’s Agenda include:
The Florida Business Agenda is developed from the input of the Florida Chamber’s 139,000 grassroots members from all industry sectors and policy committees; New Cornerstone, the Chamber’s economic blueprint; the Federation of local chambers; and allied associations and business groups. For a complete listing of all of the items contained in the Chamber’s agenda, visit: www.FloridaChamber.com. The NationU.S. Department Of Labor Proposes Rules To Modernize
H-2A Program. The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training
Administration (ETA) and Employment Standards Administration
(ESA) today jointly proposed rules to modernize the H-2A program
for employing foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural
jobs. This package of proposed changes follows the administration's
announcement that the Labor Department would review the program's
current regulations, most of which have not been updated in
more than 20 years, and propose changes to provide the nation's
farmers with an orderly and timely flow of legal workers while
protecting the rights of both U.S. and H-2A workers. During
this review, the department identified a number of practices
that have contributed to making the program difficult to use.
Currently, only a little more than 75,000 workers participate
in the H-2A program, while there are an estimated 600,000 to
800,000 illegal immigrant workers on America's farms. The updates
in the current effort include reducing duplication of government
effort by requiring employers to file H-2A applications directly
with the department's Employment and Training Administration
rather than file with state agencies. The proposal also mentions
plans to build out an Internet-based system in the future.
To improve protections for domestic workers, changes are proposed
that would increase the length of time employers would be required
to recruit for domestic workers before they are permitted to
apply for H-2A workers. Additionally, new tools and enhanced
penalties to ensure employer compliance with the H-2A program
are being proposed. Those enhanced tools would include audits,
revocation of certifications, increased debarment authority
and substantial increases in fines, up to $100,000 for violations
resulting in serious injury or death of a worker. http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2008/DOL_H2A_NPRM_final_020508.pdf. NASWA Workforce Bulletin Headlines – February 8, 2008:
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. March 19, 2008 April 16, 2008 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
February 28, 2008 March 11, 2008 March 18-20, 2008 March 25, 2008 May 13 – 16, 2008 May 18-20, 2008 July 15-17, 2008 Odds and EndsCommunity Colleges Now Seen As the Gatekeepers of Opportunity. "The days when community colleges sold themselves as low-cost community institutions…are almost over," according to a new Associated Press article “Increasingly, you have to be a gatekeeper of opportunity." The article highlights findings from the College Board report, Winning the Skills Race and Strengthening America’s Middle Class: An Action Agenda for America’s Community College. According to the report, community colleges certify nearly 80 percent of first responders in the United States (police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians); produce more than 50 percent of new nurses and other health-care and enroll 46 percent of all U.S. undergraduates. Yet despite this success, community colleges face several challenges including a mismatch in resources, which limits their ability to provide the plethora of services under the community college mission-noncredit and credit coursework and remedial education. For an overview, access the Associated Press article at http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NzMwNTMz. The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/prof/community/winning_the_skills_race.pdf. Quote for the Week: "Happy
trails to you, until we meet again. Dale Evans |
