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

College Partners with Local Mall to Provide Customer Service Training

Last fall, the College of the Desert (COD) in Palm Desert California opened the Institute for Sales and Service Excellence (ISSE) at a local shopping mall. The ISSE, an initiative of the college’s Center for Training and Development, specializes in preparing workers seeking to excel in the service industry through accelerated training, personal skills assessments, hands-on classroom training, certification and job placement. This innovative, an industry driven response to the workforce development needs of the service industry sectors, is directed by an industry Advisory Board that is comprised of all the key stakeholders. The facility serves a "one-stop" shop for prospective employees, employers and local businesses. The project was spurred by rapid growth in service industry needs in the Coachella Valley. In less than two years, the valley has added nearly 40,000 new positions, many in retail. The Center for Training and Development provides a variety of related trainings and offer career counseling and workshops on customer service.

Retail Industry Skills Centers

The National Retail Foundation (NRF), in partnership with mall developers, employers, local, state and federal government agencies, schools and colleges and community-based organizations have created “Skill Centers” which recruit, train, and place individuals in long-term retail careers and flexible job opportunities. This two-page fact sheet describes the Skill Centers and where they are located (existing and planned).

National Professional Certification in Customer Service

The National Retail Federation Foundation (NRFF) has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its initiatives to increase retail career opportunities and link employers with the public employment and training system. The goals of the initiative are to: Help new and incumbent employees develop industry skill standards knowledge and access portable, National Professional Certification in Customer Service® Develop comprehensive training "hubs" with the workforce system to showcase and expand quality training for retail and customer service career paths Connect more retailers with the public employment and training system to meet their workforce needs Create cross-industry career ladder and training models at each level to address recruitment, retention, and training. For more information on NRFF's Assessment and Certification program, go to: http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=foundation&file=assesscert.htm

Clackamas Community College Retail Career Pathways

In response to anticipated growth in the local retail sector, and the need for trained entry-level and management staff, Clackamas Community College and the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County designated retail as a key sector, convening a retail roundtable in 2004. Members developed an entry-level certificate of employability skills, a less than one-year Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) certificate and a Retail Management Certificate program, each of which were designed with direct input from a variety of local area regional retailers. The pathway program is intended to serve job seekers desiring training, workers interested in changing careers, and those who are currently working in retail who are interested in promotion. Since some retail companies are beginning to require management credentials. Some incumbent workers are enrolling in classes in order to earn a credential to retain their jobs. It is an open-entry program

Go Retail! Giving Retail Careers a New Look video

NRF Foundation (NRFF) worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) to develop materials designed to increase understanding and promote retail and related careers. The “Go Retail!” video was designed to promote this fast-growing industry. It can be used as a tool to attract and educate job seekers on the wide array of career choices within the world of retail. The 6-minute video features messages from major company CEOs, corporate employees, and small business entrepreneurs that will excite and inspire interest in long-term retail careers. A one-pager describes the video.

Developing Career Paths and Management Skills in the Service Sector

This presentation by the National Retail Federation describes the growth of the retail industry, the career paths within the industry, online training, and certification currently available. This information is valuable as many areas have a growing retail industry that makes recruitment demands upon One Stops. This information provides resources and contacts that can help WIBs to train individuals so they can be better prepared and better paid.

Maryland Retail Industry Brochure

Maryland has produced a series of brochures for each of its targeted industries This brochure provides statistics and information on the Retail Industry Initiatives to implement the Maryland Governor’s Workforce Investment Board’s cluster approach to workforce development. Information provides information that business, economic development and workforce professional would find useful.

Industry Focus Tool

Census Bureau’s analytical tool called Industry Focus will allow users to focus on particular industry sector characteristics.

Retail Industry Skills Centers

The National Retail Foundation (NRF), in partnership with mall developers, employers, local, state and federal government agencies, schools and colleges and community-based organizations have created “Skill Centers” which recruit, train, and place individuals in long-term retail careers and flexible job opportunities. This two-page fact sheet describes the Skill Centers and where they are located (existing and planned).

National Professional Certification in Customer Service and the Workforce Development System.

This document, developed by the National Retail Federation’s Foundation describes the Standards and Certification process of NRF and the benefits to WIBs and how WIBs can support interest and use of certification by business.

National Professional Certification in Customer Service Fact Sheet

This document describes the National Retail Federation’s Foundation’s (NRF) National Professional Certification in Customer Service credential. The computer-based Customer Service Assessment is based on industry-based Customer Service Skill Standards.

Retail Careers Fact Sheet

This document, prepared by the National Retail Federation, describes the types of careers that are available in the retail industry.

High Growth Industries Spotlight: Retail Webinar (Presentation Slides Zip File)

The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative serves as a national model for working with leaders in high growth/high-demand and economically vital industries to develop solutions to workforce challenges, and to make strategic investments that address specific needs for these industries. Retail, one of the targeted industries, is one of the fastest growing sectors, offering millions of new jobs in the coming years. Workforce3 One, a unique, integrated, online resource and innovative knowledge network for creating and supporting a demand-driven community, is pleased to offer a series of insightful Webinars that overview each of the targeted industries. These Webinars feature business leaders and their education, economic development, and public workforce investment partners discussing the industry's workforce challenges and the successful demand-driven solutions implemented.

Demand-Driven Incubator Sites - Employer and WIS

Department of Labor-ETA has funded a variety of system capacity building projects to advance a demand-driven workforce investment system. The Incubator Site project is designed to maximize peer-to-peer learning and information sharing while demonstrating the demand-driven principles of ETA.

Livable Wage Jobs

Provides information on how certain industries are promoted to job seekers.

WINs Governance Strategies

This is part of a series of reports on engaging employers in workforce development that provides information on how employers can use "governance strategies" to influence the direction and operation of their local workforce development systems for the dual purposes of improving advancement opportunities for workers and meeting the workforce needs of employers.