Investigating Biotechnology in Agriculture

Owensboro Community and Technical College has created a four-part video series entitled, “ Investigating Biotechnology in Agriculture.” The video has applications for high school and community college level science and agriculture courses, as well as community awareness. Each part is 30 minutes in length and best if viewed in parts because of the vast amount of material.

Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership Mobile Outreach Skills Training Program

The Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) operates an innovative accelerated job creation and job training program called Mobile Outreach Skills Training, or MOST. The MOST program is a two-week, intensive job training and placement program that “fast-tracks” Florida’s most-in-need job seekers into skilled, entry-level positions in the aerospace, biotechnology, electronics, plastics, pharmaceuticals, precision metal, construction, energy efficiency/conservation, and renewable energy manufacturing sectors. Successful trainees are awarded a Lean to Green Institute Sustainable Manufacturing Certificate, helping them become an integral part of their employers’ green initiatives.

New Publication on Career Pathway Models and Programs

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) and the National Career Pathways Network (NCPN) have released a joint publication, Thriving in Challenging Times: Connecting Education to Economic Development Through Career Pathways. This resource highlights successful career pathway models that create relevant, challenging learning environments for students and are designed to increase American employers' access to highly-skilled, qualified workers. Thriving in Challenging Times profiles 17 local and two statewide career pathways programs in multiple industry sectors, documenting the challenges, strategies, results, and business engagement each partnership has experienced.

Workforce Solutions 2009 Update

Since 2008, The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has disseminated 541 solutions through the Workforce3One innovative solutions project developed under the Community-Based Job Training Grants and High Growth Job Training Initiative. This flyer provides information on the 2009 Updates to these solutions.

New Study Explores Opportunities for Green Economic & Workforce

A new study discusses exciting opportunities for the 98-county Mid-South Mississippi Delta region to harness its extensive renewable resources to drive economic development, workforce growth, and sustainable agricultural diversification and expansion. The report offers strategies for supplying renewable fuels and products industries, creating green jobs, expanding biodiversity and opening up new crop markers, and reducing negative environmental impacts.

Tracking Biotechnology Graduates in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina

This project was aimed at developing a model for the voluntary tracking of graduates from the Forsyth Tech and Alamance Community College biotechnology programs. The North Carolina Communty College System(NCCCS) has invested heavily into workforce training with the result of producing excellent biotechnology graduates of credit or non-credit programs, thus creating a large pool of potential workers.

(Podcast) National Business Learning Partnership (NBLP): Promising Practices, Accomplishments, Reflections, and Next Steps

This Podcast offers a glance into a previously held webinar moderated by Diane Walton from ETA’s Region VI office. Diane will be talking with three mentor-learner Teams who share their experiences on using data to develop high-growth job training initiatives, recruiting and collaborating with strategic partners. The recorded webinar provides more in depth coverage on how to identify, secure, and align leveraged resources; how collaboration leads to curriculum development and training; and how to become a leader and significant player in regional economic development. Selected Teams represent a diversity of regions and high-growth industries such as Healthcare, Bioscience, Ecotourism, and Renewable or Green Energy. Related Resources: Complete Webinar recording: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/5476/info Presentation: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/2000913943057611873/info

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Community-Based Job Training Grants (Round 4) Teleconference on Performance Reporting

On April 2, 2009 the Business Relations Group conducted a teleconference with Community-Based Job Training Grantees (Round 4) on Performance Reporting. In preparation for this call, grantees were encouraged to listen to a pre-recorded webinar titled: “1-2-3-4 9134 A Guide to Preparing your First Quarterly Performance Report”: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3000905433277743821/info The teleconference reviewed key policy guidance and themes, responded to questions submitted in advance of the call, and provided additional instruction for preparing and submitting quarterly performance reports. The following materials were referenced on the call: 1) General Reporting Forms and Instructions; 2) ETA 9134 Report-Form; 3) Frequently Asked Questions documents (5 total); 4) Supplement & Glossary; and 5) Grantee Guidebook to Performance Reporting.

Community-Based Round 4 “Ask the ETA Fiscal Expert” Teleconference Recording (Recorded March 24, 2009)

This is a recording of a teleconference conducted for Community-Based Job Training grantees and focuses on the financial management aspects of their Department of Labor grant. The following Financial topics were covered during the teleconference: Administrative Controls Match and Leveraged Resources Equipment Procurement Audit and Audit Resolution Facilities and Other Capital Assets Intangible Property In order to assist you on the teleconference, as well as when you are preparing your financial reports, below are two links that will take you to ETA Financial Form 9130. The first one is a direct link to ETA Form 9130 and its corresponding instructions. The second link takes you to the DOL-ETA Financial Reporting page where you will find information related to grantee reporting systems and how to access DOL's reporting system. http://www.doleta.gov/sga/pdf/9130_Basic_JUL08.pdf http://www.doleta.gov/grants/financial_reporting.cfm Prior to listening to the recording, grantees are encouraged to listen to the following pre-recorded financial webinars posted on Workforce3One: Financial Management and Match http://www.workforce3one.org/view/4887/info Leveraged Resources & Intellectual Property http://www.workforce3one.org/view/4886/info Grant Management Requirements http://www.workforce3one.org/view/4913/info Financial Reporting http://www.workforce3one.org/view/4904/info

1-2-3-4 ETA 9134! A guide to preparing your first quarterly performance report (Presentation Slides Zip File)

The purpose of conducting these Webinars is to orient five new STEM Initiative grantees to the principles, methods and requirements of the Employment and Training Administration’ (ETA) grants management. As a result, grantees will receive the necessary technical assistance to effectively operate their grant. The first Webinar will focus on orienting grantees to the programmatic aspects of the grant. The second Orientation will focus on performance reporting requirements. We recognize this is a very small group of grantees; however a Webinar platform would support our delivery of these important topics.

The Delaware Valley Innovation Network (DVIN) Talent Gap Analysis Report

The Delaware Valley Innovation Network (DVIN) Talent Gap Analysis Report Description: The Delaware Valley Innovation Network (DVIN), which encompasses Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, has unveiled the tri-state region's first comprehensive Talent Gap Analysis Report that will help the region assess how the talent needs of its life science industry are changing and how its workforce must adapt to remain competitive in the 21st century.

Orange County Workforce Indicator Report Draws on Methodology Developed at Harvard University

The Orange County Business Council (OCBC), in partnership with the Orange County Workforce Investment Board (OCWIB), have published the 2008-09 Workforce Indicators report, a comprehensive analysis of Orange County Workforce and related issues. The article describes its content, highlights the cluster analysis and provides a link to the article on the Orange County Business Council’s website.

BioWorksU.com (IPIC)

BioWorksU.com is an interactive, first-in-the-nation website that features games, experiments and other experiences intended to introduce young people from fourth grade to young adulthood to exciting careers in the high-demand life sciences industry. It is set in a virtual university to emphasize that higher education is needed to achieve the skilled occupations featured on the site and to reward the student with a "degree" when he or she has accumulated enough game credits. Created by the Indianapolis Private Industry Council (IPIC), the site takes the student through a series of "buildings," "laboratories" and other resources to learn about careers, the work that each entails and the education needed to achieve them.

Looking to the Future: Missouri Targeted Industry Clusters

The Missouri Department of Economic Development identified eight "Industry Clusters" for targeting based on research provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), existing initiatives, industry strength, and future growth potential. Through the consistent use of cluster definitions, important information can be gained on regional employment concentrations, staffing patterns, employers, and leading firms; and, issues can be addressed in a coordinated manner that strengthens target industries with regards to skills, education, recruitment, and incentives. Following these guidelines, Missouri has published award winning targeted industry cluster reports on Agribusiness, Automotive, Defense/Homeland Security, Energy, Finance, Information Technology, Life Sciences, and Transportation/Logistics.

Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008

The Nation's bioscience industry continues to grow as states and regions vie to attract high-wage jobs, according to a study released by Battelle and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The study, "Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008," presents data on national, state, and metropolitan bioscience employment and growth trends during 2001 to 2006. The study also examines a series of additional key performance metrics and describes state policies and programs designed to accelerate the growth of the biosciences. The report has been produced from the most current and comparable annual data available. Other related resource: Career Voyages’ Biotechnology page http://www.careervoyages.gov/biotechnology-main.cfm

Summer Camps Aren’t Just for Kids Programs Engage Science Teachers in Research

This article describes summer camps offered to teachers to expose teachers to scientific challenges that many classroom settings cannot provide. Recognizing this exposure as beneficial to both teachers and students, several programs are targeting educators with the goal of enhancing instructional methods in the classroom in order to increase student achievement in the STEM fields. The article describes two university-based, professional development programs for science teachers in Kansas and Ohio. To hear a recorded Webinar re “STEM and the Workforce Investment System” go to http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3428/info

Metro Denver WIRED Transforms its Governance*

The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative demonstrates how governance structures can remain flexible and be reformed as programs evolve and functional demands change. Metro Denver’s Leadership Council was originally comprised of co-chairs from each of the Initiative’s eight panels representing industry, education, the public workforce system and small business. It was charged with oversight of the data gathering efforts of the eight panels and forming recommendations for transformation of delivery systems for a skilled workforce for four targeted industry clusters – Aerospace, Bioscience, Energy and IT/Software. As Metro Denver WIRED transitioned into the implementation phase, the Leadership Council was restructured as a decision-making body representing all partners and supported by four Solutions Teams.

Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments

The University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute has released a new volume examining the “Green Economy.” Co-Director Robert Pollin and Assistant Research Professor Jeannette Wicks-Lim provide a snapshot of the kinds of jobs that are needed to build a green economy in the United States in “Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments.” According to the research, the six green strategies are: building retrofitting, mass transit, energy-efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels. Pollin and Wicks-Lim show that the vast majority of jobs associated with these strategies are in the same areas of employment in which people already work in today, in every region and state of the country. The authors present data on employment conditions in twelve states: Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. For each state, they report the number of people employed in each of the occupations affected by the green economy strategies, and what the average wages are in each state for each of these jobs. They also describe the national employment picture for each of the job categories.

'What's Working' in San Diego's K-12 Math and Science Education

The San Diego Foundation, founded in 1975, is a broad-purpose community foundation helping individuals, families and organizations carry out their charitable plans, with the common goal of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region. The Science & Technology Working Group of The San Diego Foundation is composed of community experts in science, technology and education and has a mission to enhance science and technology in San Diego by funding innovative research, emerging scientists, science education and access to technology. In fulfillment of its mission, the Science & Technology Working Group commissioned a report called "What's Working: A Guide to Effective K-12 Math and Science Education in San Diego County."