Workforce Florida Weekly Update 10-22-04

CONTENTS
The State & Regions
The Nation
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities
Upcoming Meetings, Conferences & Events
Odds & Ends

The State & Regions

WIA Lockdown and Soft Exit in OSMIS. On 10/21/04 the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) with agreement of Workforce Florida (WFI) performance staff issued a memorandum entitled “WIA Lockdown and Soft Exit in OSMIS” providing instructions to the Regional Workforce Boards (RWBs) on closing out data entry for the Quarter that just ended on September 30, 2004. Noting that the federal reporting deadline cannot be waived/postponed, but WFI and AWI are aware of reporting and data entry problems caused by hurricane impacts in many RWBS. To access the memo go to: http://www.floridajobs.org/pdg/memos/LockdownSoftExit102104.rtf .

Florida's employment/unemployment report for September 2004 released by AWI. The state’s September 2004 unemployment rate of 4.5% is nearly unchanged from August’s revised rate. The state continues to see growth in the job market, although that growth has been slowed by the impacts of recent hurricanes. Florida's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2004 was 0.6 percent below the rate of 5.1 percent a year ago. Florida's September 2004 rate of 4.5 percent was 0.9 percentage point lower than the national rate of 5.4 percent. In September 2004, seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment grew by 125,500 jobs over the year, growing at a rate of 1.7 percent. That rate of growth is the slowest rate of job growth since January 2004. Based on data from August 2004, the latest month for which comparable data from other states is available, Florida led the nation in the number of new jobs created and had the fastest rate of annual job growth among the ten most populous states.
September marks the fifth consecutive month of positive job growth in the higher-paying Durable Goods Manufacturing sector (+2,600 jobs), with most of the jobs being added in aerospace products and parts manufacturing. The Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan areas created the most jobs in September 2004 compared to the same month a year ago (+19,600, +14,200 and +14,100 jobs respectively). The Orlando area’s job gains were largely in the leisure and hospitality and construction industries, together producing 11,200 new jobs. Job gains in the Ft. Lauderdale area were mainly in professional and business services and education and health services (+10,000 new jobs) while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s job gains were mainly in professional and business services (+13,200 new jobs). To access the full press release go to: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf

Information on assistance for disaster or disaster related separations due to multiple hurricanes now available in a user friendly matrix on AWI emergency website. In addition to various information about the hurricanes like date of storm, FEMA Number, etc., this matrix displays the dates and deadlines, by storm, that claimants may file for assistance for disaster or disaster related separations.
http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/emergency/DUA_UC/2004%20Hurricanes%20-%20Revised%2010-19-04.pdf

Businesses are encouraged to take advantage of valuable employment resource in Florida veterans - November is “Hire a Veteran Month” in Florida. Recognizing the value of those who have served our country, Governor Bush this week declared November 2004 “Hire a Veteran Month” in Florida. The Governor’s declaration is part of a nationwide campaign to reaffirm commitment to those who have served our nation in times of peace and war. Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, “Hire a Vet” is designed to remind employers of the unmatched economic resource that veterans offer. “Florida veterans have gained valuable skills, leadership and maturity while serving our country, and they offer a versatile and well-trained resource for employers,” said Governor Bush. “Florida businesses are well-served by adding veterans to their team and we in Florida are fortunate to have ready access to this skilled workforce.” The Governor’s proclamation was presented in St. Petersburg today by Susan Pareigis, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation and by Warren R. “Rocky” McPherson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Director Pareigis was in St. Petersburg attending a quarterly meeting of the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee of which she is an appointed member. “Our veterans are comfortable with new technology and are skilled and trained in a variety of areas,” said AWI Director Susan Pareigis. “We are committed to bringing employers and veterans together using our full network of workforce partnerships across the state.” Also in attendance today were Brigadier General Joe Balskus, Commander, Florida Air National Guard; Major General Ron Harrison (Retired), former Adjutant General, Florida; Jane Burke, Principal Director, Military Community & Family Policy; Dave Mitchell, Program Analyst, Department of Defense Quality of Life Office and Harold Cooney, State Initiatives Group, Military Community & Family Policy. On November 7, 2002, President Bush signed public law to amend title 38 United States Code, Jobs for Veterans Act, with the directive to revise and improve employment, training and placement services furnished to veterans. “Florida’s veterans have served with honor, bring maturity and leadership skills, and we have a great opportunity to assist them in all of our local communities,” said Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs Director, Warren R. “Rocky McPherson. “Employers will find that veterans know the true meaning of teamwork and bring valuable skills to the workplace. They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.”

Florida is home to 1.9 million veterans and has the fastest growing veterans population in the nation. The Agency for Workforce Innovation is the state’s lead workforce agency and directly administers the state’s Labor Market Statistics unit and various workforce development programs. Workforce development policy and guidance is provided by Workforce Florida, Inc. The Employ Florida network includes 24 Regional Workforce Boards who deliver services through nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers around the state. Created in 1989, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides advocacy and representation for Florida’s veterans in all state and federal veterans’ matters, and operates the state veterans’ nursing home program providing long term healthcare with 750 beds in six locations around the state. For more information go to: www.floridajobs.org .

Nancy Thompson, Polk Works, Honored at CFDC Annual Meeting. At the Central Florida Development Council's Annual Meeting on October 19 at The Lakeland Center, Gene Engle, outgoing President honored Nancy Thompson for the special and close working relationship CFDC has with her and the Polk County Workforce Development Board. Engle commented "Nancy has dedicated her life to helping others and there were so many people in Polk County who owe their jobs and careers to the work of Nancy and her excellent team of professionals." He highlighted Thompson's career of 25 years in employment and training program management and that she is serving her second term as Florida Workforce Development Association Chair. He also mentioned the special honor of Jeb Bush's request for her assistance to the struggling Miami workforce development system. Engle discussed the many local boards Thompson is involved in and her dedication to the local community. He presented her with an engraved Waterford crystal candle holder. Then Chante Roberts, a client of the Citrus Cars program and Polk Works One-Stop Center system, came forward to thank Thompson for the positive changes Polk Works was able to make in her life for herself and her family. Roberts presented Thompson with a framed picture of her with her Citrus Car.

Statement by Governor Bush regarding the education trust study. "The recently released study from the Education Trust is positive proof that Florida's education reforms are closing the achievement gap and giving all of Florida's students unprecedented opportunities to succeed. According to the study, Florida narrowed the achievement gap among every ethnic group in every subject. Florida's focus on reading, along with our innovative partnership with the College Board and our refusal to push unprepared students into higher grades is clearly paying off: Florida's 15 point gain in reading was more twice that of the next closest state. "Thanks to strict accountability and a firm belief that all children - regardless of race or zip code - can succeed, Florida is driving student achievement and giving thousands of students the tools they need to reach their dreams. I applaud Florida's educators, administrators and students for their hard work in making our state a national leader in quality public education."

Low-income housing gets relief money. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation, a state agency that brings affordable housing to lower income Floridians, will provide up to $21 million statewide for the repair, reconstruction or replacement of homes damaged during the summer hurricanes. In announcing the new "Home Again" program Tuesday, Florida Housing said the funding is expected to be available in early December.
" Housing has been and remains our top priority during the recovery effort," Gov. Jeb Bush said in a press release. "The Home Again program will assist local governments in providing those whose homes were severely damaged, or totally destroyed, the security of being back in their homes with their loved ones." The allocation will primarily focus on the most intensively storm-impacted areas of the state. Once in place, Home Again will allow local governments, State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program administrators, public housing authorities and nonprofit organizations to apply for home repair or replacement funding -- on a reimbursement basis -- on behalf of homeowners in communities that were declared state or federal disaster areas. The program will provide up to $50,000 per project to homeowners whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the area's median income and who live in single-family detached housing, a condominium unit or town home, or a manufactured housing unit. For more information, call 850.488.4197 or visit Florida Housing's Web site at: www.floridahousing.org .

Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Jennings participate in National Disability Mentoring Day. Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings this week participated in National Disability Mentoring Day. Throughout Florida, business executives, elected officials and other career professionals shared their experiences on the job as mentors to more than 600 students with disabilities. “Disability Mentoring Day provides a great opportunity for business professionals to share their work experiences with persons with disabilities,” said Governor Bush. “Florida's business community has done a wonderful job in providing valuable support and resources to people with disabilities and the agencies working to serve them.” A national initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, Disability Mentoring Day gives participants a chance to learn about the day-to-day responsibilities required of a desired occupation and the skills and education requirements specific to a job in that career field. Participants are matched with professionals based on their career interests and spend the day with mentors observing job responsibilities and gaining a better understanding of the work place environment. Based on Florida’s outstanding student and business participation over the past three years, the state has been selected as the national kick-off site for 2005. “Disability Mentoring Day is great for students like me, so we can see what is expected of people in the workforce and get career advice from people already working in the field,” said Austin Gleaton, who shadowed Governor Bush and Lieutenant Governor Jennings. Serving Florida’s residents with disabilities remains one of Governor Bush’s top priorities. For the past five years, funding for persons with disabilities has increased by nearly 127 percent bringing the total budget to $1.2 billion. In addition, Florida’s working group on the Americans with Disabilities Act has been studying three Florida communities to identify barriers to integration into the community and coordinating with agencies to help disabled Floridians transition from school to work. The Florida Freedom Initiative, another key effort to assist Floridians with disabilities, breaks down the barriers to equality, like home ownership, job advancement, and flexible use of resources. For more information on Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities please visit, http://apd.myflorida.com.

Mr. Edwin Ritter of St. Petersburg Honored as Florida's "Outstanding Oldest Worker". Mr. Edwin Ritter (96) of St. Petersburg, FL was honored at a ceremony October 19th at 10:30 AM at the WorkNet Pinellas Administrative Offices at 4525 140th Street North in Clearwater. Mr. Ritter was selected Florida's Outstanding Oldest Worker as part of the Experience Workssm National Prime Time Awards Program. Also being recognized at this ceremony will be AAA Motor Club South as an Outstanding Employer of Older Workers. Experience Works, the nation's largest provider of training and employment services for older workers, recognizes outstanding older workers, outstanding oldest workers and outstanding employers of older workers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State/Regional winners in each category then compete to be recognized in Washington D. C. during Experience Works National Ceremony. The Prime Time Awards Program is the only national program that, each year, honors the contribution of working seniors. Now in its seventh year, the Prime Time Awards Program seeks to remove barriers to employment and lessen negative stereotypes about older workers. Mr. Ritter was born on 08/08/08. After serving in the Navy during WWII he worked in a movie house followed by 54 years in the banking industry. After retiring and moving to St. Petersburg for some peace and quiet, he soon realized that he was not yet ready for retirement. Seeking new challenges, he applied at the St. Petersburg Motor Club to become an Emergency Road Service call taker - that was 24 years ago! During this period he has seen the motor club grow from 220,000 members then to over 3.1 million today. Now in charge of filing service records Mr. Ritter has not shown any signs of slowing down. To his supervisor, Ms. Ginny Ehlert, he is "the best". He works 23 hours a week - never misses work and is never late. His keen eye and attention to detail has saved the company hundreds of dollars. And all with an attitude, vitality and enthusiasm that belie his age and set the standard for his peers. To AAA Motor Club of the South, Mr. Ritter is truly "priceless". "As our population continues to age, it is becoming more important than ever that businesses look to older workers to fill critical jobs," said Madaline Simpson, Regional Director of Experience Works. "Our Prime Time Awards Program showcases the talents of our nation's seniors and helps us demonstrate that ability is truly ageless."
The ceremony also marked the expansion of an agreement that will give seniors the opportunity to gain job experience in Goodwill stores. The agreement between Experience Works and Goodwill Industries-Suncoast will provide training and employment opportunities for seniors at Goodwill stores in 10 counties in West Central Florida. Experience Works is a national, nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers. Established in 1965 as Green Thumb, and renamed Experience Works in 2002, the organization reaches more than 125,000 mature individuals in all 50 states and Puerto Rico each year. Information about Experience Works and its programs can be found at www.experienceworks.org.

The Nation

HOUSE: Not in session. Scheduled to reconvene at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16.
SENATE: Not in session. Scheduled to reconvene at noon Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers news release. Median weekly earnings of the nation's 102.3 million full-time wage and salary workers were $632 in the third quarter of 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This was 2.3 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.7 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period. Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary worker usually earns. (See the explanatory note.) Highlights from the third-quarter data are:
• Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $571 per week, or 81.1 percent of the $704 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among Hispanics or Latinos (90.1 percent) and blacks (89.1 percent) than among whites (80.9 percent) or Asians (73.5 percent). (See table 1.)
• Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $570 per week, 79.1 percent of the median for white men ($721). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($508) were 87.1 percent of those for their white counterparts ($583). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($458) were lower than those of blacks ($531), whites ($651), and Asians ($701). (See table 1.)
• Among men, those age 45 to 54 and age 55 to 64 had the highest median weekly earnings, $859 and $828, respectively. Among women, earnings also were highest for these two age groups--$629 for 45- to 54-year olds and $607 for 55- to 64-year olds. (See table 2.)
For the full release with tables go to: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

From NASWA:
• FY 2005 omnibus spending bill yields opportunities and threats to workforce system funding. Although Congress is officially in recess, their top aides are drafting the FY 2005 omnibus appropriations bill over the next month. The omnibus spending bill will determine funding levels for the nation's workforce system if Congress decides to approve the legislation when it returns to Washington the week of November 15. A lame-duck Congress may find it difficult to consider a contentious spending package after the November 2 election and decide instead to push final consideration into next year. Nonetheless, interest groups in Washington are vigilantly monitoring staff negotiations for fear their programs will be left out of the end-of-year appropriations measure if Congress decides to act. In the omnibus spending package are nine unfinished FY 2005 appropriation bills, including the bill providing spending for Labor, HHS and Education programs. House and Senate Congressional aides must negotiate funding levels in the omnibus bill for Labor programs because of differences between House and Senate versions. The Labor spending bill passed the House in early September, but did not make it to the Senate floor after being approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The House and Senate bills differ in their spending for the Employment Service (ES) program by $91 million and for unemployment insurance (UI) state administration by $36 million. FY 2005 spending for WIA job training programs are largely the same, but the Senate spending bill would appropriate $250 million and $50 million for the Administration's Community College and Personal Re-employment Account (PRA) pilot initiatives, respectively. Determination of funding levels included in the omnibus bill over the next month will be dependent on a number of factors. Ultimately, issue visibility throughout the recess could determine final funding levels. Decision-making on appropriation levels often are determined by those issues having the most vocal advocates, according to Representative Ralph Regula (R-OH), Chairman of the House Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. NASWA learned Chairman Regula has received input from a number of states concerned with the $91 million reduction of ES funding in the House bill and he may be inclined to restore the funding to its FY 2004 level in the omnibus bill. A move by Chairman Regula to restore ES program funding to its FY 2004 level would seem to ease negotiations with the Senate, which provides the same level of funding in its bill. However, NASWA learned this week that there is a dispute between the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Administration over actual funding levels approved in the Senate bill. The Administration has said the Senate bill would actually spend approximately $3 billion more than it is allowed under the budget caps established earlier in the year. This dispute is likely to make it more difficult to maintain the ES program appropriation level in the Senate bill and could further complicate efforts to convince Chairman Regula to increase his appropriation. This complication increases the importance placed on states raising visibility of the ES program and other workforce system appropriations. NASWA distributed two template letters states may use to continue efforts to advocate adequate funding for the Employment Service (ES) program. The letters are similar to the one made available in early September, which was aimed at the House before it approved the Labor, HHS and Education spending bill (H.R. 5006) - including the $91 million cut to the ES program state grant. The newly revised letters (1) reflect the possibility FY 2005 appropriations will be completed by consolidating unfinished spending bills into an omnibus bill negotiated over the five-week Congressional recess and (2) details our concerns with the House and Senate workforce spending bills as they stand today. The letters include an attachment relating our workforce program appropriation request to the funding levels that would be provided under the House and Senate bills. These letters would be sent in a timely manner as long as they make it to members' desks before the week of November 15. Ideally, these letters should be sent sometime over the next two weeks when staff will be busy constructing the bills.
• Congress enacts legislation allowing storage of I-9 work eligibility form. Congress enacted and the President is expected to sign into law legislation (H.R. 4306) to free business from storing documents recording their employees' immigration status. Since enactment of a major immigration overhaul in 1986 (P.L. 99-603), every employee hired in the United States is required to fill out an Employment Eligibility Verification form, call an I-9 form. Current law requires employers to examine documents presented by the employee verifying their identity and their eligibility to work and retain the I-9 form on paper, microfilm or microfiche. The recently approved bill permits the use of handwritten or electronic signatures in completing I-9 employment eligibility forms and would allow employers to store the I-9 electronically.
• DOL announces grant to automotive youth educational systems as part of the High Growth Initiative. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao this week announced a $2.2 million grant to Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) to recruit and train young people for careers in the automotive industry. The grant is part of a $6.3 million auto industry workforce development effort under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, a strategic plan to prepare workers for jobs in expanding industries. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco traveled to Rochester this week to officially announce the grant. Through business and education councils made up of automotive manufacturers, educators and local businesses, AYES has developed a school-to-career model program to recruit, train, and employ young automotive industry technicians. With this Labor Department grant, AYES will be able to expand beyond its presence in large metropolitan areas to other parts of the country, increasing annual enrollment from 3,000 to nearly 10,000. Using online and satellite systems, AYES will deliver a self-paced, customized curriculum. Participants will also receive hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art environment. The automotive sector grants fund solutions to challenges identified by industry leaders and educators. Among those challenges are providing the technical skills training automotive workers need today; increasing the number of youth entering the automotive industry; developing alternative training strategies, such as apprenticeship, and disseminating content for distance and accelerated learning.
• DOL announces revised website to help military spouses obtain training and find work. A website designed to assist the spouses of U.S. military personnel has been revised to include additional guidance on education, training and employment resources. The website (MilSpouse.org) contains a "career coach" guiding users to information on key problems facing spouses. For example, the site guides visitors to information based on their employment history and future employment goals.

U.S. Department of Labor ETA publishes workforce systems results; narrative, tables and charts summarize performance information as of June 30, 2004. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) publishes a quarterly snapshot of program performance with narratives, tables and charts examining progress in achieving goals of helping people find jobs and connecting workers to employers. This current snapshot presents:
• National Employment Indicators / Workforce System Highlights
• People Served by Program / Appropriations
• Government Performance and Results Act Goals
• Adult Program Results (14 Programs)
• Youth Program Results (6 Programs)
• ETA Internet-Based Assistance (CareerOneStop, O*NET, AJB)
• ETA Business Relations Group Activities (Partnership for Jobs, President's High-Growth Job Training Initiative)
• Glossary of Performance Measures
• Appendix: Workforce Investment Act State Formula Spending for PY 2003
To Download go to: http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2004/Edition-9_6-30-04.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor WIA National Performance Report available online. The WIA Annual National Performance Report consists of a roll-up of all the State reports. It includes Customer Satisfaction results, Outcomes for Adults At-A-Glance, Adult Special Populations, and Other outcomes for the Adult Program, Dislocated Worker Program Results At-A-Glance, Dislocated Worker Special Populations, Other outcomes for the Dislocated Worker Program, Older Youth Results At-A-Glance, Outcomes for Older Youth Special Populations, Younger Youth Results At-A-Glance, Outcomes for Younger Youth Special Populations, Other Reported Information and Participation Levels.
PY03 WIA National Summary of Annual Performance Data
PY02 WIA National Summary of Annual Performance Data
PY01 WIA National Summary of Annual Performance Data
PY00 WIA National Summary of Annual Performance Data

Community College bill introduced. S 2885, by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) would authorize $100 million in fiscal 2005 in grants program for community colleges to fund training to meet a local workforce need, employing faculty, improving facilities and buying library books.

Unprecedented national partnership launched to encourage minority entrepreneurship; Urban entrepreneur partnership to provide business training, coaching, procurement opportunities, access to financing nationwide (Oct. 18 /U.S. Newswire). The National Urban League, Business Roundtable, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, joined by President Bush's National Economic Council Director and other Administration officials, announced five pilot cities of a groundbreaking national partnership to encourage minority entrepreneurship and business development nationwide. The new Urban Entrepreneur Partnership will combine private, public and non-profit sector resources to expand entrepreneurship and jobs in historically neglected and economically underserved urban areas. The initiative calls for the development of one-stop economic empowerment centers to provide business training, counseling, financing, and procurement opportunities to minority and urban business owners. "Small businesses are the largest creators of new jobs in America and the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership will help more minority owned businesses find the technical assistance, financial investment and corporate relationships they need to grow, develop, and create more jobs in the urban areas that need it most," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and Chairman of the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership. "Growing small and medium-sized minority owned businesses is one of the best ways to close the wealth gap in America and provide real economic empowerment to our communities." The collaboration will initially focus on five communities -- Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Kansas City -- with a goal of having the business centers operational by early 2005. The partners have set an ambitious goal of establishing up to fifteen one-stop centers in communities nationwide by the end of 2006. For the full press release go to: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38316 .

Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and Notices

For additional information go to, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.

REPEAT Request for Proposals for ‘Project Connect: An Intervention Program for Youthful Offenders’ (issued by Workforce Florida, September 20, 2004). Purpose: The purpose of this Grant Solicitation is to seek innovative applications for intervention programs for one of the most at-risk groups in the state – youthful offenders. The use of the word ‘CONNECT’ in this solicitation has a double-meaning. First, it represents the emphasis on the much needed collaboration between local youth agencies yielding a multi-faceted and yet well coordinated program to assist youthful offenders. The “Strengthening Youth Partnerships’, a series of statewide meetings of youth partners, had as its primary goal to develop and implement strategies that forced the collaboration of all local agencies/organizations that serve youth through enhanced communications, coordination and planning. The purpose of this initiative is therefore to ‘connect’ local youth agencies/organizations. Second, it represents the emphasis on efforts to ‘connect’ youthful offenders to their future. Qualifications for Applicants: Only regional workforce boards (RWBs) may apply for these grants. This initiative, however, is intended to be a local, collaborative effort with the following mandatory partners: Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) residential facilities and/or probation/community control agencies, local school system, the local judicial system and private businesses and/or business groups. New Deadline for receipt of proposal: October 26,2004, 5:00 PM, Eastern. To access the complete RFP go to:
http://www.workforceflorida.com/rfp/index.htm .

Federal/State Grants

Networking Technology And Systems (NeTS)

Nursing Workforce Diversity Grants (Repeat)

Demonstration Grants to Address Labor Shortages and Workforce Challenges in Health Care and Biotechnology Industries (Repeat)

Secondary and Two-Year Post Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants Program

Health Education and Training Program

Foundation Grants

(none)

Scholarships/Awards

Accessible America Competition

Upcoming Meetings, Conferences and Events

Workforce Florida Board and Related Meetings Schedule:

October 28 & 29, 2004
Employ Florida Marketing Consortium Meeting
Tampa, FL
For more information contact Lucia Fishburne at lfishburne@workforceflorida.com .

November 17, 2004
Executive Directors (Partners) Meeting 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Embassy Suites – Downtown, Orlando

November 18, 2004
Committee Meetings
Board of Directors
Embassy Suites – Downtown, Orlando
NEW: It has been confirmed! The Workforce Excellence Awards and will be presented at this meeting.

December 15, 2004
Council Chairman Teleconference
Executive Committee Teleconference

Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:

October 25-27, 2004
Orientation to Supported Employment Training
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina
The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and The Transition Center at the University of Florida are pleased to announce the next three-day collaborative training,
Orientation to Supported Employment. The training will provide participants with an introduction to the employment of people with significant disabilities. Dale DiLeo, a nationally known expert in the field of supported employment, and Sheila Gritz, a leading state trainer in transition for the Transition Center, will lead the training. This event has been highly rated by participants, and is most appropriate for employment specialists/job coaches and school-to-work transition personnel, but would also benefit supported employment supervisors, family members and others. The Association for Persons in Supported Employment has approved the core competences addressed in this training. A certificate of completion will be presented to participants at the end of the three-day training. Participants are required to attend all three days. A total of 40 persons will be accepted for this training. Please note that all of the previous trainings of this topic have quickly filled to capacity. Acceptance notices will be sent at the close of registration, based on application date. To learn more or to register, please go to
http://www.flse.net/flsupportedemp/nexttraining.html .

October 27-30, 2004
National Legislative Program Evaluation Society and Legislative Research Librarians 2004 Fall Training Conference
“ Adding Value to the Legislative Process"
Tallahassee, Florida
The Florida Legislature's Office Of Program Policy Analysis And Government Accountability (OPPAGA) is hosting this year's National Legislative Program Evaluation Society and Legislative Research Librarians Fall Training Conference. Special features will include a keynote presentation by David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States. As the head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Mr. Walker will provide his perspective on what steps oversight offices can take to best add value to the legislative process and share information on lessons learned by the GAO in working with Congress to meets its constitutional duty to oversee the executive branch. In addition, the conference will feature a variety of workshops and breakout sessions in the areas of Skills Development, Office Management Issues, and Hot Topics that should be of interest to all states. These hot topics will include sessions on Education, Economic Development, Corrections, and Health and Human Services. Participants are welcome to attend any of the sessions. This conference is designed for program evaluation and performance auditing staff at all levels. Local government and executive branch staff are invited to attend, as are private and nonprofit sector evaluators. Sessions will be of interest to auditors, evaluators, legislative staff, policy analysts, scholars, and others involved with government. For more information go to: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/NLPES/index.htm

October 30-November 3, 2004
Sixteenth Annual National Dropout Prevention Network Conference
Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando
A Student With a Dream is a Student With a Future. Join the National Dropout Prevention Network (NDPN), Communities In Schools of Florida, Florida Learn & Serve/TitleIV, Orange County Public Schools, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, National Crime Prevention Council, and others as they cosponsor this event. Strands will cover topics to address needs of dropout prevention specialists, teachers of students with disabilities, Title I personnel, teachers of migrant students, Communities In Schools staff, family and community outreach personnel, parents, volunteers, mentors, and juvenile justice personnel who work with students in at-risk situations. For more information go to:
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/conferen/conferen.htm

November 4 – 5, 2004
The Biotech 2004 Symposium: “Trends and Partnerships”
Florida Community College in Jacksonville
This Symposium, "Biotechnology Trends and Partnerships", will focus attention on the workforce needs of the biotechnology industry and highlight promising strategies for biotech workforce training. Effective responses to these concerns requires cross sector cooperation and coordination that bring educators, workforce and economic development agencies and the biotechnology industry together as partners for change. The Symposium will draw on experience and expertise that emphasizes the training and development of a motivated and qualified workforce for this rapidly expanding industry. The theme also ties into the "High Growth Job Training Initiative" launched by the Bush administration. Collaborating in this way, we hope to strengthen the many wonderful partnerships already underway to improve biotechnology workforce development, as well as to engage new organizations in this work. Keynote presenters include Elaine Johnson, Director of Bio-Link, John Rogers, President of EcoArray and CEO of BioFlorida, Mary Pat Huxley, State Director of California’s Community College Biotech Initiative, Sam Durrance, Executive Director of the Florida Space Research Institute at the Kennedy Space Center, and Ervin Owens, Scripps Florida Human Resources Manager. Several moderated panel sessions will feature discussions on creating a national center for the Biotechnology workforce, workforce and economic development best practices, industry and educational partnerships, and the North Carolina statewide biotech plan. Details are posted on the website:
http://www1.fccj.org/ATC/biosymposium/index.html

November 15 - 19, 2004
ETA Grants Financial Management Training
Chicago, Illinois
The Employment and Training Administration's Office of Grants and Contract Management is pleased to announce an in-depth training opportunity for financial and administrative professionals. During the week of November 15th in Chicago, Illinois, financial managers will learn the financial and administrative principles and practices that pertain to the One-Stop system and all other ETA-funded grant programs. On November 16th we will focus on partners in the One-Stop system. We will discuss the identification of shared costs, shared cost budgets, cost allocation within the One-Stop system, and resource sharing. We would like to invite all recipients of partner programs, including recipients of funding from other federal agencies such as the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to attend this session. On November 17th and 18th, we will focus solely on ETA funded grant programs. This training is designed for workforce system professionals with day-to-day responsibilities for financial or accounting operations. Non-financial staff are welcome to attend; however, they may find some of the sessions overly technical if they have limited exposure to financial management issues. State and local WIBs are encouraged to forward this notice to pertinent staff. While there is no registration fee for this training, participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Full details, including registration information, logistical details, and a topical agenda are available at: http://www.dtiassociates.com/fmtraining.

November 16, 2004
Statewide Life Sciences Forum
Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza
Tampa, FL
Help shape Florida's future in life sciences. Discover the diversity of life sciences throughout Florida. Exchange ideas with fellow life sciences professionals. Improve Florida's business climate for the life sciences. For more information go to: http://www.eflorida.com/lsforum.

USDOL’s Workforce Tools of the Trade Workforce Investment Systemwide Events Page. http://www.workforcetools.org/calendar.asp

Odds and Ends

New GAO study, Public Community Colleges and Technical Schools: Most Schools Use Both Credit and Noncredit Programs for Workforce. The goal of most American workers—a well-paying job—will be increasingly linked to adequate training in the coming years. Such training will be key to competing for the 21 million new jobs the Department of Labor projects will be created in the 2002 to 2012 period. People already in, or seeking to enter, the workforce often turn to the nation’s more than 1,100 public community colleges and technical schools to obtain needed skills. Nearly 6 million students were enrolled in for-credit courses in the fall term 2000 and millions more participated in noncredit courses at these schools. GAO was asked to examine: (1) the extent to which community colleges and technical schools are involved in remedial education and workforce training efforts as well as academic preparation activities; (2) how state and federal funding support these academic and training efforts; and (3) what is known about schools’ efforts to measure outcomes, including the rates at which students graduate, transfer to 4-year institutions, pass occupational licensing exams, and gain employment. The scope of our review included a Web-based survey of 1,070 public community colleges and technical schools, 758 (71 percent) of which completed the survey. For highlights of the study go to: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d054high.pdf. For the full 44 page study go to: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d054.pdf .

American Council on Education report: Missed Opportunities: Students Who Do Not Apply For Financial Aid. In academic year 1999–2000, 50% of undergraduates who were enrolled for credit at institutions that participate in the federal Title IV student aid programs, or approximately 8 million students, failed to complete a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although upper-income students and students attending part time were least likely to file a FAFSA, large proportions of low-income and full-time students also did not complete an application. The share of students who failed to submit an application varied significantly by the type of institution attended, with students at community colleges far less likely to apply for aid than individuals attending other types of institutions. http://www.acenet.edu/programs/policy/pubs.cfm#issuebriefs

New state rankings for entrepreneurship and small business. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC) has released its rankings of the states according to their public policy climates for small business and entrepreneurship in the Small Business Survival Index 2004 http://www.sbsc.org/Media/pdf/SBSI_2004.pdf. “What the Small Business Survival Index seeks to expose is whether state and local governments turn out to be a plus or a minus when it comes to entrepreneurial decision-making” says an economist for SBEC. Several Southern Growth states rank in the top twenty: Mississippi (7), Alabama (8), South Carolina (13) and Virginia (15). Curiously, several of the states noted for their energetic entrepreneurial climate rank low. For example, California is ranked 50th, just ahead of the District of Columbia. The reason for this is that over half of the indictors in the index are tax related. SBEC is a lobbying and research group headquartered in Washington, D.C.

New report says U.S. high tech workers face chronic unemployment. A new report focusing on several of the nation's leading high tech centers says that U.S. high-tech workers still face chronic unemployment and serious jobs deficits. WashTech, the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, has tracked job losses in information technology over the past several years. Its new report, America's High Tech Bust, found that the U.S. high-tech economy lost 200,000 jobs after the recession was declared over in November, 2001. See the report at http://www.washtech.org/reports/.

Career academies school reform model explored in new report. MDRC recently released the report, “Career Academies Impacts on Labor Market Outcomes and Educational Attainment.” Career Academies is a comprehensive school reform model promoting partnerships between educators and businesses to develop and implement curriculum and student worker programs. In their nine-site analysis, MDRC found Career Academies significantly increased long-term earnings and reduced high school drop out rates. The impacts were the greatest for at-risk students. To learn more about the Career Academies evaluation please visit: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/366/overview.html

Office of Economic and Demographic Research Florida Demographic Forecast. The results of the October 15 demographic estimating conference are now available. The conference estimates a 2.58% population growth for 2004 based on April 2004 census figures. For the full report go to: http://www.state.fl.us/edr/conferences/population/demographic.htm

Website provides first hand accounts of world's historical moments. The Federation of International Trade Associations recently wrote in its on-line newsletter, “If you've ever wondered what it was like to be on the Titanic when it hit the iceberg, or with Kublai Khan in the middle of a battle, or on the street during the Great Fire of London, you can learn all that and more at http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com . This site has dozens of eyewitness accounts of historical events, and they make for fascinating reading. There are also historical photos, and some recordings of radio broadcasts and speeches relating to pivotal events of the 20th century. This site is useful for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to experience an eyewitness account of a historical event.

Quote for the Week:

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right. "

Confucius

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this web site may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.