NGA Center for Best Practices Offers State-by-State Green Economy Profiles

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) commissioned Collaborative Economics Inc. (CEI) to prepare a profile of each state’s "green" economy. The profiles provide a comprehensive picture of each state’s existing assets across multiple green sectors and offer a foundation for identifying future green growth areas and related needs. Profiles discuss areas such as green business activity, employment concentration, technology innovation, and sector information.

New York City Green Collar Jobs Roadmap

The Center for American progress has released a new resource entitled “New York City Green Collar Jobs Roadmap.” The Roadmap is a product of the Green Collar Jobs Roundtable, which was convened by Urban Agenda. The Roundtable was a participatory effort of over 170 job-training organizations, community-based programs, businesses, and labor unions that compiled data on green jobs and workforce development best practices while developing more than 30 recommendations for achieving the shared vision of a more sustainable, prosperous, and just New York City. The Roadmap includes recommendations related to green economic development, talent engagement and development, job creation, employer engagement, and partner collaboration.

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.

West Ocala Green Jobs Project

The West Ocala Green Jobs Training Project, sponsored by Central Florida Community College and Workforce Connection, the Workforce Investment Board for Florida’s Citrus, Levy, and Marion counties will serve approximately 35 unemployed or low income individuals interested in retraining for a career in solar installation or weatherization and retrofitting. The article describes the program and some of the grant and partnership development steps Workforce Connection has taken to respond to recessionary pressures in their community.

Recovery Act Dollars Fund QuickJobs Carolina Initiative

Recovery Act dollars will help support a collaboration among state and local agencies, including technical colleges, that aims to increase South Carolina’s ability to provide new opportunities for dislocated workers and eligible adults to receive job training that meets the demand of the local business community. Courses offer training in high demand industry areas with particular focus on the industry sectors of: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Trades, Energy, Health Care, and Transportation/ Logistics.

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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

Seattle Vocational Institute Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (SVI PACT)

Seattle Vocational Institute Pre-apprenticeship Construction Training (PACT) helps to meet the demand for green-collar workers in the construction trades by preparing low-income individuals for career opportunities in commercial construction. The mission of SVI is to provide an opportunity to those most in need, while meeting the demand in the local construction industry for qualified workers.

Map Your Career

Publication highlighting career pathways in Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Life Sciences in the Seattle-King County area (Washington)

Validating the Residential Construction Competency Model

The goal of this Webinar is to get industry feedback on the Residential Construction Competency Model. Participants should be familiar with the model prior to the Webinar in order to provide ETA with constructive feedback. ETA will use the information provided to rework the competency model and create a useful, employer-ready, tool for the industry. The model is a nine-tier graphic that outlines the skills needed to enter a number of fields within the construction industry. Tiers 1 through 3 represent foundational skills that are in demand across the industry. Tiers 4 and 5 contain industry competencies that are specific to the industry, or industry sector represented in the model. Tiers 6 through 9 represent specialized skills needed to enter specific occupations within the industry. This Webinar is an opportunity for participants to shape the development of the model. Just as the construction industry is constantly evolving, the competency model will continue to develop and improve over time to remain a relevant and vital tool in developing the residential construction workforce.

Colorado Construction Sector Workforce Needs Study

This National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP) report provides analysis of the construction industry context and labor supply in Colorado, as well as an overview of sector initiatives and design principles for their application to similar workforce challenges. The report the local construction industry and its projected workforce demand and analyze labor market information to identify job creation and occupations in the construction industry. The report identifies labor supply issues, and training pathways. Included is a detailed description of what constitutes a sector initiative and how sector initiatives may be applied to address similar workforce skills gaps.

Construction in Wisconsin: An Industry Perspective (Report and Career Poster)

The "Construction in Wisconsin: An Industry Perspective" Report provides is an informational report that provides a descriptive overview of the construction industry in Wisconsin. Designed for employers, Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), One-Stop partners, workers considering careers in the construction industry and job seekers skilled in the trades, the report begins by defining the elements that comprise the construction industry and identifying industry subsectors. The report continues by providing specific data and analyses of: recent overall employment in construction, industry employment and wages (subsector distribution, and change), turnover, projected growth, and Wisconsin’s regional outlook. The state ends the report with a list of additional construction resources (including area apprenticeships) and also provides a companion career poster, "Work Exploration in the Real World – Construction". Other related resource: Poster - http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/worknetinfo.aspx?htm=poster_lg_construction

District of Columbia (D.C.) Employment Guidebook - Construction

First in a series of three, this employment guidebook on Construction from the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) includes an overview of the national and local construction industry, select construction opportunities, training and education requirements, alternative careers, apprenticeships, local apprentice programs and trade organizations, top ten occupational projections, and a chart on how to map a construction career.

YouthSource Seattle King County

In King County, Washington the Workforce Development Council and the King County Work Training Program, have created the YouthSource program. YouthSource is a consortium of youth providers offering a full array of opportunities and programs focusing on education, employment and leadership. These services include connections to a full array of youth programs, links to community resources for life stabilization, job readiness & placement and comprehensive case management. In July 2008, YouthSource received the U.S. Department of Labor's Recognition of Excellence Award in the "connecting America’s youth to the workforce" category at the national 2008 Workforce Innovations Conference.

Sed de Saber Construction Edition

Sed de Saber Construction Edition is an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) tool targeted to Spanish-speakers in the construction industry in an effort to promote a more skilled, safer workforce, improve quality and reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Industrial Maintenance Training Center (IMTC) Cross County Sector Strategy

Over the last four years, three Workforce Investment Boards in south central Pennsylvania – Berks, Lancaster, and South Central – that serve ten counties have worked with more than 25 employers, eight Career and Technology Centers (vocational technical schools), and two community colleges – Reading Area Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College - to develop a system to train high school students and incumbent workers to become entry-level industrial maintenance technicians. To view a PowerPoint titled “Positioning the WIB as a Sector Strategy Leader” go to: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/1962/info

ETA Announces Availability of Energy, Construction and Trade Grant Funds

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds for high-impact regional approaches to meet the workforce challenges of the energy industry and/or address the shortage of construction and skilled trade workers needed to maintain and expand the energy industry infrastructure. The closing date for receipt of applications is March 25, 2008. A Webinar for prospective applicants will be held for this grant competition on February 1, 2008. Access information for the Webinar is available at: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/web279/info

Getting to Work: A Report on How Workers with Limited English Skills Can Prepare for Good Jobs

This report, from Working for America, profiles programs in four industries: manufacturing, health care, hospitality and construction that used union and or employer partnerships that sought to better serve immigrants and refugees get and keep jobs while they develop English fluency. Covers program design, supports and continuous improvement and covers common challenges (p. 35) such as: assessment, data tracking and program evaluation, curriculum development,, Staff development, adequate funding, and equity in the workplace.