Corporation for Enterprise Development Announces Future of Economic Opportunity Award Winners

The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) recently announced the winners of its Future of Economic Opportunity Award at the organization’s 30th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C. CFED honored several organizations for outstanding work in the areas of Financial Security, Entrepreneurship, and Affordable Housing. Awardees were highlighted for their innovative accomplishments in integrating community practice, public policy, and private markets to achieve results at significant scale.

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 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.

The Workforce Strategy Center Releases New Report on Education Strategies for Disadvantaged Youth and Young Adults

The Workforce Strategy Center’s recent report, “Employers, Low-Income Young Adults, and Postsecondary Credentials: A Practical Typology for Business, Education, and Community Leaders,” highlights programs in 14 communities that are successfully addressing the challenge of providing disadvantaged youth and young adults with the technical and postsecondary education that may qualify them for skilled positions. Programs discussed in the report meet the following four basic criteria: Getting low-income youth and young adults postsecondary credentials that will allow them to enter and advance in career track employment. Working with employers in industry sectors important to the region’s economy. Maximizing employer roles and commitment. Demonstrating portability, scalability, and replicability. Programs discussed are based on a variety of models, including community-based organization models, community and technical college models, employer models, industry sector models, and social enterprise models.

New Strategies for Serving Unemployed “Professional” Workers

Across the country, state and local workforce systems are grappling not only with dramatically increased customer demand for services, but also with changing customer bases. In many areas, increasing numbers of laid-off “professional” or “white collar” workers are seeking reemployment assistance in One-Stop Career Centers. This article highlights several state and local efforts to implement targeted strategies to meet the particular needs of this job-seeking group.

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.

JVS' BankWorks ™ Training Program

Jewish Volunteer Services (JVS) – Los Angeles’ first and most experienced non-profit focused exclusively on workforce development is offering BankWorks(TM), a free training program designed to put people on the path to a career in the financial sector.

(Presentation Slides Zip File) Linking Money to Mission: Financial Tools & Strategies for Turbulent Times

What are ways your organization is impacted by the current economic environment? This Webinar presentation will cover basis financial management concepts and strategies for coping with the current economic downturn. Participants will be given access to a number of financial management tool-kits and resources that grantees can utilize within their own organizations. Join the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) for an in-depth and dynamic discussion of your organization's financial situation, plans for the future, and strategies for achieving long-term goals.

(Presentation Slides Zip File) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds Financial Reporting Requirements

The purpose of this webinar presentation is to provide information on the reporting of ARRA Employment Security and Workforce Investment Act funds in the E-Grants on-line electronic Grantee Reporting System. The intended audience is the financial managers and staff responsible for maintaining and reporting the financial data in the e-grants on-line electronic grantee reporting system. The Webinar will be presented by Judi Fisher, Division Chief, and Nancy Williams, Team Leader, in the Office of Grants and Contract Management Division of Policy Review and Resolution.

Transcript

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

Strategies for Financing Workforce Intermediaries: Working Papers

Jobs for the Future (JFF), along with several partners, has researched the question of how workforce intermediaries might use existing or new funding sources to finance their core functions. JFF prepared these working papers for Investing in Workforce Intermediaries, a collaboration of the Annie E. Casey and Ford foundations. In 2007, and with additional support from the Hitachi Foundation, the lessons and accomplishments of this pilot effort formed the basis for a large-scale, national initiative: The National Fund for Workforce Solutions.

Returns to Angel Investors

Entrepreneurs and investors regularly wonder what the returns are in angel investing. This report by the Kauffman Foundation provides data on investment return that has been heretofore unavailable. Information from 539 “angels” show these investors have experienced 1,137 “exits” (acquisitions or Initial Public Offerings that provided positive returns, or firm closures that led to negative returns) from their venture investments during the last two decades. The average return of angel investments is 2.6 times the investment in a 3.5 years timeframe. The report defines and examines three factors in successful angel investing Due diligence time: More hours of due diligence positively relates to greater returns. Experience: An angel investor’s expertise in the industry related to greater returns. Participation: Angel investors that interacted with their portfolio companies were more successful. Want to learn more about angel investing? Go to Building Your Entrepreneur Eco-System: A Roadmap for Sustainable Incubation

General Obligation Bonds as a Financing Mechanism for Regional Economic and Workforce Development Authorities

States and municipalities have long sold bonds to finance capital improvement projects. Relatively recently, however, a handful of states have explored bonds as financing tools for human capital development. The results of this practice are examined in this report, with particular attention given to how this financing mechanism is used to finance workforce intermediaries. The report was prepared for the National Commission on Education and the Economy, and was submitted by Jobs for the Future.

The STEM Talent Development Forum A Dialogue for Action

This resource documents the proceedings of the STEM Talent Development Forum held in Philadelphia on June 26-27, 2006 that was convened by Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center. Designed to respond to the landmark report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” and subtitled “A Dialogue for Action”, the Forum was held to bring the national conversation about the critical role of education in American competitiveness to the regional level, and galvanize the region’s institutions into creating a collaborative action agenda to promote STEM education. All the panels have useful summaries of panelist observations and key recommendations and texts of key addresses by ETA Assistant Secretary Emily DeRocco and Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary, Department of Community and Economic Development are included. Other related resouces: For another event focused upon Rising Above the Gathering Storm go to http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3714/info NGA award of STEM grants to six states last week:http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=16fe9886dc773110VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=759b8f2005361010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD or http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/awn-news/eta_default.cfm?id=803

Benchmarking for Success

This study, prepared for Missouri by the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) is designed to determine if there are common characteristics of great WIBs, Using information from effective Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) from around the country, this study identifies 16 critical success factors within four major categories: Measuring Success, Managing the Work of the Board, Working Strategically, and Developing and Managing Financial Resources. Key factors for successful WIBs can be found in the Conclusions section (p. 51) and a useful self assessment tool for WIBs can be found at p. 57.

The Finance Project

The Finance Project is a specialized non-profit research, consulting, technical assistance and training firm. Their Information Resource Center, a web-based resource provides policy information, research and evaluation findings, state and local initiatives, and tools and guidance materials in a broad array of policy areas, including welfare reform, workforce development, education, and sustainability and financing. The Finance Project’s features: An Online Information Resource Center to Share Knowledge Widely Technical Assistance and Training Resources Policy Research, Tools, and Funding Guides

Business & Industry Services Network Case Study

This case study discusses examples of Community Colleges in Connecticut who have created solutions to the training and skill development gaps faced by employers in the health care, financial services and manufacturing industries.

Measuring Industry’s Return on Investment

Realizing the best possible return on investment is an essential part of doing business. In today’s economy, it may make the difference between profitability and financial failure. Since the most valuable resource a company has is its employees, the amount of time invested in education and training represents a significant investment of company resources. This brief discusses examples from two technology employers that demonstrate the benefit of hiring graduates with an associate of applied science degree. A ROI survey to capture industry hiring and training costs also demonstrates the value of hiring those with a 2 year degree.