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| FEB | 2011 |
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EMPLOYER CONNECTION | Issue No. 1 |
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Dear ,
Welcome to Employer Connection, WORKFORCE CONNECTION's
new e-newsletter designed exclusively with you in mind.
Each month, Employer Connection will bring you updates on the products and services WORKFORCE CONNECTION provides to our business community. In addition to details about what's going on throughout our three-county region, "What's Happening" county by county will let you know about WORKFORCE CONNECTION programs and offerings in your community.
Employer Connection will also provide information on statewide unemployment information, updates from Workforce Florida Inc., and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. "In the News," a monthly feature from CEO Rusty Skinner, will provide insight and analysis on local and regional workforce development issues.
Our goal with Employer Connection is to assist you and/or your HR staff recruit, hire, train and retain the best possible employees to meet your specific workplace needs.
One way to get started is by letting us advertise and manage your open positions by using the Online Job Order link you'll find posted below. We also want to help make hiring and training your employees affordable and will let you know about tax breaks, training grants and other financial incentives.
WORKFORCE CONNECTION is dedicated to helping you grow your business. This monthly newsletter is just one of many tools that will be launched in 2011 to improve our services and products to help meet the needs of our business community.
Welcome to 2011 and to the Employer Connection e-newsletter.
Sincerely,
Pat Reddish,
WORKFORCE CONNECTION Board Chair and
Human Resource Director, Signature Brands
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You hire, train your way, we help pay
Learn and Earn and On-the-Job Training
Tired of sifting through stacks of applications and not finding the right job candidates? Worried about the cost of training? Workforce Connection can help you find your next employee and even help pay to train them under your supervision.
If you are ready to hire, we'll help screen candidates and reimburse up to 90-percent of their wages while they're being trained.
If you can't commit to hiring right now, our Intern Program may be right for you. We'll match you with an adult intern, 18 or older, who has recently graduated from a Workforce training program. You provide experience and training for three months, we'll pay your intern up to $400 a week. Read on |
What's happening: Marion County
Third flight of Green Jobs students ready to launch
The impact of an emerging green economy is broad and diverse. Whether your business provides core green products/services or you find yourself wanting to reduce business-related consumption and waste simply to cut costs and improve efficiency, one thing is certain: you'll need a well-trained workforce.
Graduates of WORKFORCE CONNECTION's Green Jobs Training Program, funded through WORKFORCE CONNECTION with training provided by the College of Central Florida, have the training and industry certifications you need to get the job done.
The cutting-edge program provides training in green manufacturing, construction, solar installation, recycling, weatherization and retrofitting, sustainable food management and more. Even if "going green" isn't in your immediate future, these graduates have work-readiness and foundational skills that can benefit any business. Hiring and enhanced training incentives and tax breaks are also available. Find out more by contacting our Business Services Team.
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What's Happening: Citrus County
Making sense of the Census: Deciphering the Numbers
If you have ever wanted to access census data for proposal writing, research, planning and/or to identify population trends and characteristics, then don't miss Deciphering the Numbers on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the College of Central Florida Conference Center, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway (County Road 491) in Lecanto.
Deciphering the Numbers is sponsored by the Citrus County Business Resources Alliance in collaboration with the United States Census Bureau. The Alliance is comprised of the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, College of Central Florida, Economic Development Council of Citrus County, the Florida Small Business Development Center, SCORE and WORKFORCE CONNECTION.
The first 90-minute session provides a general overview including how to conduct simple data searches and tips on using American FactFinder. The second, 3 ½-hour session covers in-depth topics including:
- Accessing data to help solve community problems
- Developing a business plan using census data
- Identifying target populations
- Proposal writing for nonprofits
- Constructing trend analyses
The workshops are free; boxed lunches will be available for a nominal charge. Interested in attending? Call 352-795-3149 or contact the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce. |
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What's Happening: Levy County
Levy County Connections: Building a Stronger Business
Last month more than 70 Levy County employers, citizens and entrepreneurs attended an Economic Development Summit presented free of charge in partnership with the Nature Coast Business Development Council, College of Central Florida, Progress Energy, Levy County chambers of commerce and WORKFORCE CONNECTION.
The summit, held Jan. 21 at Bronson High School, focused on Building a Stronger Business to help Levy County businesses thrive during challenging times. The program featured Dr. Tom O'Neal, executive director of the University of Central Florida's Business Incubation Program, GrowFL, and Don Upton, president of Fairfield Index of Tampa.
The keynote presentations built on existing "Team Levy" efforts and ways to reengage the business community. Team Levy was originally developed to provide a forum to explore planning options for the future, ensure economic opportunity, protect what matters most and learn by accessing key trends and experts. In addition to the keynote speakers, a series of interactive roundtables provided small businesses with information on loans and investment capital, sustainable industry trends and innovative marketing strategies as well as services and products offered by WORKFORCE CONNECTION. |
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Here to Serve You
Recruiting, training and retaining a high performing workforce is essential in today's competitive environment and changing economy. From recruitment services to training assistance to outplacement for employees, our team of business service professionals are skilled in providing employment solutions that work for business.
Our Business Services Team can assist you with the latest labor market intelligence as well as job and industry growth projections to help you make the best decisions when it comes to your business. Contact our team today!
If you prefer, call the team at
at 800-434-JOBS, ext. 1606 or 352-873-7939, ext. 1606.
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Submit Your Job Order!
Let WORKFORCE CONNECTION meet your hiring needs. Fill out our convenient Online Job Order Form.
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In the News
Among the recommendations Gov.Rick Scott received from his economic development transition team recently was one that calls for changes in Florida's unemployment system. One recommendation in particular - that long-term recipients of unemployment benefits be required to perform some sort of community service or volunteer work to continue qualifying for the payments - has resulted in various articles and editorials calling this "punishing the unemployed."
But these criticisms miss a vital point in the proposal. Read on |
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Employment Update
The Jan. 21 release of unemployment data for Citrus, Levy and Marion counties indicated joblessness dropped under 14 percent in December 2010.
WORKFORCE CONNECTION'S region posted a 13.6-percent unemployment rate, down 0.7 percent since November and down 0.5 percent over the year. Read more and/or view year-to-year stats |
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New e-system saves employers time, money
Employers can apply for the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) using a new online system that dramatically speeds up the approval process.
Tax savings of from $2,400 to $9,000 are available for employers hiring workers from targeted groups, including veterans and those receiving public assistance.
During the most recent federal fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2010, nearly 54,000 WOTC certifications were issued for a potential tax savings to Florida employers of nearly $130 million.
To learn more or to submit an application, please visit the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
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About Us
 Mission: WORKFORCE CONNECTION brings together citizens, employers and educational providers to develop programs to support high-quality education/training and employment services to meet regional workforce needs.
WORKFORCE CONNECTION is the local, business-led organization that plans and coordinates quality employment and training services for businesses and individual career seekers in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties. The volunteer
Each year, approximately 1,500 businesses and more than 36,000 career seekers receive services through the WORKFORCE CONNECTION. Services include professional and technical recruitment, training, targeted talent marketplaces (job fairs) and financial incentives. regional workforce board sets policy and directs expenditures of more than $6 million in funds that underwrite services provided through the WORKFORCE CONNECTION offices. |
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| You're receiving this email because of your relationship with WORKFORCE CONNECTION. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. For information about Business Services, please call 800-434-JOBS, ext. 1606. |
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