New Kauffman Foundation Study on Entrepreneurship

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has published a new survey report, “Making of a Successful Entrepreneur: The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur,” which presents and explores entrepreneurs’ views about what influences the success or failure of startup businesses. The survey researched the beliefs of 549 company founders of successful businesses in high-growth industries, including aerospace, defense, computing, electronics, and health care. Company founders surveyed indicated that the most critical factors in startup success are prior work experience, learning from previous successes and failures, having a strong management team, and plain luck. Less important factors noted include business location, investor advice, alumni networks, and state or regional assistance. The study notes that understanding what makes entrepreneurs successful could help develop better policies to foster entrepreneurship and increase the numbers of high-growth companies. Related Resources: Entrepreneurship for Veterans with Disabilities: Lessons Learned from the Field Opportunities for Rural Community and Economic Development The Green Coast Innovation Zone Green Spotlight: Innovators and Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Summit Final Findings – Project Gate (Growing America Through Entrepreneurship) http://www.entrepreneurship.gov http://www.entrepreneurship.org

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.

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.

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

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.

Targeting Industries, Training Workers and Improving Opportunities: The Final Report from the Sectoral Employment Initiative

This November 2008 publication by Public Private Ventures (PPV) is its final report of the Sectoral Employment Initiative (SEI) launched in 1998 to explore the potential of sector initiatives to improve job prospects for low income workers. The report describes 9 organizations and their initiatives and lessons learned from those program models Six of the models concentrated on skills training for participants (in the health care, manufacturing, paralegal and information technology industries), two operated social enterprises (in health care and day labor), and one created a membership association of workers (in the child care sector).

Map Your Career

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

Information Technology and the Workforce

A State of the Workforce article about the IT industry in the Seattle-King County area (Washington)

Information Technology Industry: Competency Model Introduction and Review

A competency model is a collection of multiple competencies that together define successful performance in a defined work setting, through a clear description of what a person needs to know and be able to do (e.g., the knowledge, skills, and abilities) to perform well in a specific job, occupation, or industry. The goal of ETA's competency model initiative is to develop a dynamic, industry-driven framework for the foundational and technical competencies that are necessary for workers across all sectors of the Information Technology Industry. The model is intended to provide a common language to inform discussion among industry leaders, educators, economic developers and public workforce investment professionals as they collaborate to: Identify specific employer needs Develop and evaluate information technology curricula and training models Develop position descriptions and hiring criteria Develop industry defined performance indicators and skill standards Provide a basis for development of foundational, cross-industry certifications Develop assessment and testing instruments Provide guidance for government investments in workforce preparation strategies in the information technology industry There are numerous materials available in the form of certifications, curricula, and skill standards that identify the competencies needed in an occupation that have been developed by and endorsed for use by industry. The finalized model for the Information Technology Industry has been developed by researching and analyzing these publicly available resources, existing skill standards, competency-based curricula, and certifications. The intent is to develop a dynamic framework of foundational and technical competencies for entry-level workers. The model must be industry-driven to ensure that the competencies meet the skill needs of the industry. ETA conducts initial research and analysis, drafts a mock-up of the m

California Innovation Corridor Retrains High-Skilled Engineers

Like much of the country, the California Innovation Corridor is facing a workforce shortage in highly skilled, technical positions as the baby boomers retire. Following the dot com bubble burst, there are a number of dislocated software engineers with strong technical backgrounds that are relatively well-prepared to transition to the aerospace and defense industry. This is a story about how California Innovation Corridor WIRED collaborated with a local university and workforce board to retrain these engineers to meet regional industry demand. Other Resource: http://www.doleta.gov/wired/regions/1g_California_Innovation_Corridor.cfm

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.

'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."

Global Workforce Report: Emerging Markets

This short report in the online Workforce management journal provides a good overview of site selection in emerging markets and identifies that low wages, though a key factor, are often complemented by an available skilled workforce, tax incentives and existing infrastructure. Useful for economic developers working with firms thinking of relocating here or in emerging markets for data about emerging markets and site selection factors firms are seeking. To see what US firms can do about off shoring in the IT industry go to Lower Cost Domestic Sourcing: A Niche Opportunity For The US

Lower Cost Domestic Sourcing: A Niche Opportunity For The US

This is an Executive Summary of a full report of the same title provided by the Information Technology Association of America. Offshoring of IT-related services has become a dominant industry trend over the past decade and a half. This Summary describes how the US can take advantage of its Information Technology expertise, experience learned from public sector customers, and some dissatisfaction with current offshore efforts and look afresh at new US locations as potential sourcing destinations. This includes lower cost mid-sized metropolitan areas and rural communities that can provide a significant cost improvement over Tier 1 IT hubs such as Silicon Valley. Learn more about offshoring by reviewing the Brooking Institution’s report at: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3007/info

Creativity and Industrial Cities: A Case Study of Baltimore

This paper, published by JENA Economic Research, draws on Baltimore to assess the potential of transforming a traditionally industrial region into a creative economy. It analyses Baltimore’s performance on dimensions of talent, tolerance, technology, and territory both as a stand-alone metropolitan area and in comparison to similar industrial metropolises. Using data from the US Census Bureau and research on creativity measures, this case study concludes that Baltimore has the opportunity to capitalize on the creative economy because of its openness to diversity, established technology base, and appealing territorial amenities such as access to the largest reservoir of creative talent in the US: Washington, DC.

Cyber Security Education Consortium

The Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC) is a consortium of technology centers, regional community colleges and the University of Tulsa. Since its inception, CSEC has grown from a cluster of four tech centers and four community colleges in Oklahoma to include 30 technology centers and community colleges in seven states (Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas). CSEC is the first ATE in Oklahoma, and the first in the nation to emphasize digital forensics. In addition to serving as a national model, the center created an “Outsource Oklahoma” initiative, designed to draw IT security jobs to the state instead of outsourcing them overseas. Programs of study cover core areas of information assurance, secure electronic commerce, network security, enterprise security management, and forensics.

Nonprofits of the Future

Technology is changing the game for organizations in the social space. In this podcast interview from the Center for Social Innovation (Stanford Graduate School of Business), nonprofit technology consultant Paul Lamb explores how the web is transforming nonprofits and NGOs, and looks ahead to the potential that mobile computing, virtual worlds, user generated content, and other social networking tools can change traditional constraints and open new doors. This clip is 37 minutes in length.