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Workforce Information & Economic Analysis
Quality workforce information and economic analysis is a crucial part of any strong regional economy to make sound decisions and investments. This information and data is used in strategic planning, benchmarking economic competitiveness and measuring outcomes of an area and region. Information is power. Quality information is priceless.
Posted On :
03/19/09 10:28AM
/Views :
4076
/Downloads :
2538
Mapping Green Career Pathways: Job Training Opportunities and Infrastructure
The Apollo Alliance and the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce have teamed up to identify components of Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin's workforce development infrastructure that can be better integrated and scaled up to help fill jobs in the clean energy sector. The reports, Mapping Green Career Pathways: Job Training Opportunities and Infrastructure, recommend strengthening existing training infrastructures to build workers’ skills to fill green-collar jobs that are being created in the construction and manufacturing sectors, which are projected to account for 55 percent of all new jobs in the emerging renewable energy and efficiency industries. According to the reports, many of the elements of a green training infrastructure already exist in each state, but there are still gaps along the green career pathway that must be filled through stronger, more integrated training programs.
Posted On :
02/16/10 04:26PM
/Views :
455
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428
"Any Job Isn't Enough: Job-Centered Development in the American South"
In 2009, South by North Strategies conducted a comprehensive review of the changes in state-level economic and workforce policies and practices that have occurred in the American South since the mid-1990s. Commissioned by The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in Winston-Salem, NC, the resulting study traced the evolution of “jobs-centered development.” This model strives to combine the traditional tools of economic and workforce development in ways that better cultivate the skilled workforces demanded by local businesses and expand the opportunities available to local residents, especially low-income ones. The full study, entitled When Any Job Isn’t Enough: Jobs Centered Development in the American South, documented the need for a new development approach, traced the rise of current innovative practices, identified the building blocks of jobs-centered development, critiques popular strategies, and identified lessons applicable in recessionary times.
Posted On :
02/01/10 11:01AM
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162
/Downloads :
39
New York State Small Business Task Force Report
This Report represents efforts of Task Force members who have worked to formulate recommendations that would have a substantive impact on small business growth and development in New York, including: increasing access to capital, implementing regulatory and administrative reforms, and improving work force training and technical assistance programs. The recommendations that impact workforce development include the following: Integrate Economic Development and Workforce Training Activities through a Sector-Based Strategy. This effort should build on the work of the National Governor’s Association Sector Academy, which is focusing on three industry clusters: green, advanced manufacturing and health care. Create and Expand a Layoff Aversion Program. The State Department of Labor (DOL) is in the process of creating Emergency Response Teams that will assist small businesses in distress with consulting on business turnaround, layoff aversion and Employee Stock Ownership Programs. The Task Force supports the initiation of this pilot program encourages statewide expansion as soon as possible. Increase On-the-Job Training Opportunities. The Task Force urges DOL to use its federal Workforce Investment Act funding to leverage greater local participation by providing matching support on a competitive basis for up to 50 On-the-Job Training (OJT) projects of between five and 10 workers each. The Task Force also supports DOL’s plan to enhance OJT by providing an additional incentive to businesses that hire the long-term unemployed. Improve Opportunities for Youth in Small Business. A portion of the Workforce Investment Act resources should be set aside to leverage local funding of creative youth/small business projects. A fund of $750,000, matched at the local level by a 2-1 ratio, could support 10 competitively selected projects linking youth to small business opportunities.
Posted On :
02/01/10 10:38AM
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237
/Downloads :
49
Closing the Talent Gap: A Business Perspective--What Florida Needs from its Talent Supply Chain
Formed in 1961, the Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders, which exists to promote the economic growth of Florida and improve the economic well-being and quality of life of its citizenry. This report, Closing the Talent Gap, is predicated on the fact that continued enhancement and development of Florida’s talent is the leading determinant of the state’s ability to build a vibrant and innovative economy. Thus, this research is directed toward identifying the key factors for investing public dollars in each stage of the education delivery process in order to deliver the highest dividend to Florida’s students and economy. The report was commissioned by the Florida Council of 100, in partnership with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Posted On :
02/01/10 10:30AM
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272
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122
Compete: Impact--2009 Accomplishments and 2010 Outlook
The Council on Competitiveness is a leadership organization comprised of CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to ensuring that the United States remains the world leader. The Council has one goal: to strengthen America’s competitive advantage by acting as a catalyst for innovative public policy solutions that address America’s major competitive challenges and capitalize on its unique strengths. This report highlights the Council's 2009 accomplishments and the outlook for 2010.
Posted On :
01/11/10 10:55AM
/Views :
284
/Downloads :
60
Green Jobs Innovation in Portland, Oregon
Portland's program, called Clean Energy Works Portland, creates a Recovery Act-funded revolving loan fund that will enable Portland homeowners to take out long-term, low-interest loans and repay them through small additions to their utility bills. Green for All has partnered with the City of Portland to implement an innovative green jobs program that aims to retrofit 100,000 homes for energy efficiency while creating new green jobs and economic opportunities for low-income residents of the city. Grantee: Portland YouthBuilders (PYB) Location of Grant Activities: Oregon Amount: $100,000 Key Partnerships: Oregon Employment Department, Southeast Works OneStop Career Center, Portland Community College, the Oregon Institute of Technology, and the Oregon Employer Workforce Training Fund Project Description: Portland Youth Builders (PYB) will expand its current greenjobs training program to prepare low-income youth for entry-level obs and advanced training in the following energy efficient and renewable energy industries: energy efficient construction, weatherization, solar and wind energy, sustainable agriculture, and residential and commercial retrofitting. Project Outcomes: Key modifications will be made to the PYB programs including the development of a weatherization pathway, the development of a green internship program, the enhancement of existing green curriculum based on feedback from the Energy Trust of Oregon, the establishment of key partnerships with PostSecondary institutions and local green employers, and the construction of PYBbuilt Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified homes. Contact: Jill Walters Portland YouthBuilders 4816 SE 92 nd Avenue Portland, OR 97266
Posted On :
12/08/09 11:35AM
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483
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132
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.
Posted On :
11/20/09 02:28PM
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586
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139
State Policy Resources for Supporting Adults’ Postsecondary Success
In early November 2009, the National College Transition Network hosted the Policy Forum “Shifting Adult Education Policies to Support Postsecondary Success.” The Forum explored policy changes being pursued by six Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) to create pathways to postsecondary education and family-sustaining careers (“middle-skill” and high-skill occupations) for low-income working adults. These states are part of the Joyce Foundation’s “Shifting Gears” initiative, which was launched in 2006 to promote regional economic growth by improving the education and skills training of the workforce. Shifting Gears grew out of the recognition that many adults lack the skills and postsecondary credentials necessary to obtain the new jobs emerging in the wake of the decline of traditional Midwestern industrial and manufacturing sectors. The initiative is helping these states implement significant, systemic policy changes to institutionalize innovation in adult education, workforce development, and postsecondary education programs and to strengthen the connections among these various programs. Click here for other related resources:
Posted On :
11/20/09 01:13PM
/Views :
426
/Downloads :
90
(Podcast) Real Time Jobs in Demand: Finding Jobs in a Contracting Economy
This Podcast offers a glimpse into the webinar moderated by Tony Dais. The actual Webinar discusses an innovative tool for identifying industry and occupational demand based on real-time data. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Labor Market Information Director will showcase their new Real Time Jobs in Demand Tool and demonstrate the various uses of the tool. Please review the actual Webinar recording on workforce3one for a more in depth review of this Webinar. Related Resources: Completed webinar recording: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3000910361490173480/info Presentation: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/2000909839111767110/info
Posted On :
11/19/09 11:42AM
/Views :
806
/Downloads :
217
Leveraging State Economic Development Resources to Create Job Opportunities for People with Disabilities
State and local economic development agencies are a largely untapped resource for increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This brief highlights existing state, regional, and local economic development resource tools and discusses ways in which states and localities can leverage traditional loan and financing programs that enhance job creation, provide access to local employment opportunities, or help support employment for residents, including those with disabilities. The National Technical Assistance and Research Center (NTAR) Leadership Center promotes leadership for increasing the employment and economic independence of adults with disabilities Related Resources: Entrepreneurship for Veterans with Disabilities: Lessons Learned from the Field Collaborating and Coordinating with Employers
Posted On :
11/16/09 04:27PM
/Views :
650
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224
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.
Posted On :
11/04/09 10:14AM
/Views :
1026
/Downloads :
603
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.
Posted On :
10/30/09 01:14PM
/Views :
613
/Downloads :
157
Goods Movement Resource Manual from the National Association of Regional Councils
The National Association of Regional Councils, in partnership with transportation cluster association partners, has released a new resource entitled “Building Planning Capacity Between Public and Private Sector Partners in the Freight Industry: A Resource Manual.” The objective of the Manual is to develop the planning capacity of freight stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, and to create more effective and efficient regional level freight-specific infrastructure planning. The manual explores the relationship among goods movement, regional business and workforce, economic development, agriculture, the environment, and public health, and highlights the need for a high degree of coordination among multiple modes of transportation crossing multiple jurisdictions. In collaboration with the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Community of Practice, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has worked with education, business, and industry leaders to develop a comprehensive competency model for transportation. The model is designed to evolve along with changing skill requirements. The community of practice members have committed to working with industry partners to keep the model current. Click here for access to the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics competency model.
Posted On :
10/30/09 12:58PM
/Views :
489
/Downloads :
120
San Diego Renewable Energy Workforce Development Initiatives
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) awarded six Innovation Awards at its annual meeting in October 2009. San Diego Miramar College was recognized in the workforce development category for two if its innovative “green energy” faculty development programs for secondary and postsecondary instructors. Please also note that the Department of Energy has recently announced investments in solar energy technologies, including the establishment of an “Installer Instructor Training network (to promote) high-quality training in the installation of solar technologies.” The California Community Colleges Board of Governors was one of the nine recipients. Click here, for the announcement and a synopsis of the activities to be undertaken by each educational “node” of the network.
Posted On :
10/30/09 12:47PM
/Views :
660
/Downloads :
185
2009 Excellence in Tech-Based Economic Development Award Winners
The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently announced the winners of its 2009 Excellence in Tech-Based Economic Development (TBED) Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in TBED emphasizing impact, strategic value, and replicability.
Posted On :
10/30/09 12:42PM
/Views :
687
/Downloads :
201
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.
Posted On :
10/28/09 09:43AM
/Views :
686
/Downloads :
223
New Trade Adjustment Assistance Research Reports Available
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) recently released four new reports related to the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The reports are part of a longer-term project to conduct a national net-impact evaluation of the TAA program. The new reports include: Initial Implementation of the Trade Act of 2002; Assessment, Case Management, and Post-Training Assistance; Linkages Between TAA, One-Stop Career Center Partners, and Economic Development Agencies; and Rapid Response and TAA. All four reports are available through the ETA Research Publication Database.
Posted On :
10/27/09 02:42PM
/Views :
511
/Downloads :
118
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.
Posted On :
10/27/09 02:30PM
/Views :
652
/Downloads :
210
Regional Council Self-Assessment and Resource Toolkit
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), in partnership with the Missouri Association of Councils of Governments and Development District Association of Appalachia, has published a self-assessment and resource toolkit designed to assist executive directors of regional councils, along with policy board members, in conducting an organizational analysis. This resource is intended to help regional development leaders explore the various aspects, challenges, and opportunities of governing and operating a high-performing regional council, and to evaluate their own organizations against various characteristics of successful regional councils. Other related resources: Innovation in Action articles- http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3000929249738360965
