California Promotes Construction Trade Apprenticeships
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched the “I Build It-Youth” campaign to begin training California’s future skilled workforce. The campaign aims to promote careers in the construction trades to junior and senior high school students through apprenticeship opportunities. As part of the “I Built It-Youth” Campaign, a dynamic and engaging video featuring apprentices working in the field and highlighting the benefits of participating in an apprenticeship program will be distributed to counselors, teachers and educators through junior and senior high schools and youth organizations across the state. The video is available at: www.IBuiltIt.org.
Posted On :
12/18/09 09:38AM
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507
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127
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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469
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128
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
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420
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89
Workforce Information Council's Green Jobs Study Group Releases "Measurement and Analysis of Employment in the Green Economy"
The Workforce Information Council's Green Jobs Study Group has just released "Measurement and Analysis of Employment in the Green Economy" The Workforce Information Council is a Federal-State group established under the Workforce Investment Act that works together to plan, guide, and oversee the nationwide workforce information system. Given the growing interest in and need for information about green jobs, the Workforce Information Council (WIC) chartered the Green Jobs Study Group in March 2009 to address three goals: Define green jobs and identify what needs to be measured related to green jobs; Develop alternative methods of measuring green jobs; and Develop an action plan. The purpose of this report is to provide information to the WIC, LMI units, and other interested parties on working definitions and methods to estimate and analyze green job employment.
Posted On :
11/16/09 04:30PM
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861
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594
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
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1018
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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
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608
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154
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
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483
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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
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654
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184
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
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678
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198
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
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676
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222
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
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645
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209
Opportunities for Rural Community and Economic Development
The Rural Sociological Society’s latest Rural Realities publication, “Homegrown Responses to Economic Uncertainty in Rural America,” explores three interconnected "homegrown" approaches for reinvigorating and growing struggling rural economies, which have been particularly hard-hit by the economic recession. The paper also offers several policy and strategic options for fostering homegrown rural development efforts. Related resources: Link to "Innovation in Action" article:http://www.workforce3one.org/view/3000929241996925905 Economic Gardening http://groups.google.com/group/econ-dev?msg=subscribe&hl=en The Farm Act of 2008 established the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. This program will provide technical and financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to qualified Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to support microentrepreneurs in the development and ongoing success of rural microenterprises. An MDO is an organization that provides access to capital and business-based training services to very small (micro) businesses. A microentrepreneur is an owner and operator, or prospective owner and operator, of a rural business with not more than 10 full-time equivalent employees who is unable to obtain sufficient training, technical assistance, or credit. USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service today has published a proposed rule in support of the implementation of this program to meet the goals and requirements of the Act. Comments are due by November 23, 2009. The October 7, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER" contains the proposed rule.
Posted On :
10/19/09 11:34AM
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545
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150
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.
Posted On :
10/05/09 12:56PM
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1090
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771
Iowa Leverages Social Networking Media to Launch Career Hub
The Iowa Coalition for Innovation and Growth has launched the Iowa Career Hub on the Facebook social networking platform. The Iowa Career Hub is designed to raise awareness about career pathways and related academic opportunities among Iowans of all ages. Through the Career Hub, Iowans can access organizations in both the public and private sectors to learn more about career opportunities and planning.
Posted On :
10/05/09 12:48PM
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940
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385
New STEM Collaborative Launched in Colorado
Secondary and post-secondary education partners in Colorado have teamed to launch the Colorado Academy for the Development of STEM-related Careers (Colorado ADSC). The Colorado ADSC alliance seeks to position the state as a leader in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, from kindergarten to the post-secondary graduate studies level, and to ready students for entry into high-growth, STEM-related industries and sectors. The collaborative will offer students training, multi-level certifications and degrees, and job placement assistance. Other related resource: TEN 23-07: Building and Sustaining an Educated and Prepared STEM Workforce
Posted On :
10/05/09 12:12PM
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872
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335
NYSDOL Awards Grants to Connect Emerging and Transitional Workers to In-Demand Careers
The New York State Department of Labor has announced the award of more than $2 million in stimulus funding for a new Emerging and Transitional Worker Grant program. The grants, awarded in the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions, are part of a larger, $15 million statewide stimulus investment to give those with little or no connection to the workforce the skills necessary to successfully obtain employment and advance in their careers.
Posted On :
09/21/09 12:09PM
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1129
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393
New Study Explores Opportunities for Green Economic & Workforce
A new study discusses exciting opportunities for the 98-county Mid-South Mississippi Delta region to harness its extensive renewable resources to drive economic development, workforce growth, and sustainable agricultural diversification and expansion. The report offers strategies for supplying renewable fuels and products industries, creating green jobs, expanding biodiversity and opening up new crop markers, and reducing negative environmental impacts.
Posted On :
09/21/09 11:37AM
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727
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397
MetroDenverCareers.com Launches As Resource for Career Information
The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative has created MetroDenverCareers.com, a place for students, job seekers, educators and business professionals to learn about and access career resources for some of the region's fastest growing, high-wage, industries - aerospace, bioscience, energy, and information technology-software. MetroDenverCareers.com includes new career interest brochures that WIRED created in partnership with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The four brochures contain descriptions and salaries of industry occupations, skills and education needed for each occupation and the places individuals can go to attain the needed skills and education.
Posted On :
09/11/09 08:02AM
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690
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225
The Green Coast Innovation Zone
The Green Coast Innovation Zone (GCiZ) is a regional strategy to leverage public and private assets and natural resources to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship through research, business incubation, focused workforce development, targeted economic development and policy development. The GCiZ will focus on the emerging green economy including, renewable energy, and other technologies that promote sustainability as well as public engagement in the process of “going green.” The goal of the GCiZ is to facilitate in the transformation of a more sustainable economy and environment through targeted economic and workforce development opportunities in the three contiguous counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo in California. The three counties also have common geographic, demographic and economic profiles including similar industry sectors. Each county has at least one major university and a military installation where research and product development can occur.
Posted On :
08/19/09 11:05AM
/Views :
1110
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437
Analyzer Technician Competency Model
The Analyzer Technician Opportunities Project (ATOP) announced the completion of the Analyzer Technician Competency Model, a formal document defining the skills and competencies needed for analyzer technicians working in the field.
