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Greetings!
I wanted to spend a moment to let you know about some key issues impacting Florida's workforce. I have spent a number of days over the past few weeks working on Unemployment Insurance (UI)issues with legislative staff, with other regional directors and with the Agency for Workforce Innovation and Workforce Florida.
It appears that the requirement for community service will not be included. The concerns that are moving its removal are that it would increase administrative costs to monitor compliance and that the U.S. Department of Labor does not think it is legal.
A concern that has surfaced is that one segment would require an applicant to apply for five jobs per week. While seemingly positive, if 1.2 million people applied for five jobs per week, the employers that list their 200,000 jobs in the Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM) would probably not do so for long if applicants would be applying merely to comply.
We are suggesting a more focused approach that requires application and referral by our One--Stop team if the job is within a percentage range of their previous salary and the One-Stop staff feel that their qualifications match those of the Job Order. The lack of jobs must be considered in any requirement.
We have also been working with state staff on a number of requirements that will strengthen our team's ability to work with UI customers. We are asking that any registrant who is not fully registered - partials are allowable- be required to register fully; be blocked from self-referral if they do not and, if on UI, denied benefits until they do (after a period to comply). While these and others made are very fine points they are the details which empower our staff, improve the product employers get and make our services more valuable, if properly executed.
Lastly, we also met recently to discuss making the technical updates of the 1972 UI IT system part of a vision of a re-employment system. This would be a system where there is no direct application for a UI benefit. All must complete a full EFM registration and the last question takes them into a benefit subsystem if they appear eligible. This is a mindset/cultural shift that aligns a UI benefit with the assistance that we can provide while an applicant is LOOKING FOR A JOB.
As always, we value your input and welcome the opportunity to help grow your business,
Rusty Skinner, CEO
WORKFORCE CONNECTION
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Ocala's Phoenix Rising Youth Build Project
The Phoenix Rising project provides young adults the opportunity to learn valuable skills and receive hands on training in home construction to help revitalize a community hit hard by the economy.
 | | Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers pens good wishes during wall raising |
Spearheaded by Ocala Police Chief Sam Williams in partnership with Workforce Connection, Habitat for Humanity, the Ocala Police Department and the City of Ocala, the 16-week program kicked off in February and concludes in June. It provides Workforce Investment Act (WIA) eligible out-of- school older youth (ages 18-21) the opportunity to work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas, and learn job life skills that will prepare them for employment or college. It also will serve the community by providing affordable housing.
The 16 participants are split into TEAM PHOENIX and TEAM RISING. Half the day is spent in life skill/soft skill training and the other half is spent in hands-on construction. Community leaders, employers, and guest speakers mentor the trainees. Read more, visit Habitat's Photo Gallery or Watch the Video.
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Chamber Power of One Series
The Power of One is an initiative of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce. Through this effort, members pledge to grow their businesses by one employee in 2011.
 Workforce Connection is pleased to partner with the Chamber in sponsoring the Power Series of presentations designed to provide businesses with the tools and resources necessary to grow. In addition to keynote presentations during each Power session, Workforce Connection will highlight business development programs and services that give you the edge in recruiting, hiring, training and retaining the best possible workforce. In addition, through Workforce Connection, employers will be able to post job openings at no charge.
The next workshop features Cash Flow Management and will be presented by Will Leaming of Root Theory Advisors. It takes place Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 a.m. at the Ocala/Marion County Chamber. Register online |
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Levy County Business Outreach
The Business Development team has made tremendous efforts to recruit and serve businesses in Levy County.
In February, more than 200 letters were sent to employers with three or more employees in Levy County that currently do not utilize our services. In addition, 50 employers were contacted that have not used our services in more than a year.
The Business Development staff had "boots on the ground" during the month of February and into March meeting with employers to market our services and products to those employers. Our goal is that we will continue to expand services to employers, while gaining new job orders, internships and On the Job (OJT) positions for our Levy County employers.
Within two weeks of these outreach efforts in Levy County, three new internship agreements were developed and 12 new job orders were posted within EFM. |
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Powerful Census Tools for Business
Citrus resource alliance make sense of census
Florida's biennial census data is set for release any day now. But what can you do with the wealth of statistical information, and where do you even start?
More than 70 entrepreneurs and representatives from nonprofits and local governments found out last month at Deciphering the Numbers, a workshop sponsored by the Citrus County Business Resource Alliance in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Marilyn Stephens, assistant regional manager of the Census Bureau's Atlanta office, discussed how anyone can mine census data to help develop business plans, create targeted marketing campaigns and obtain information to support grant proposals - and that's just for starters.
For data from Census 2010 and 2000 census turn to the New American FactFinder. To access the American Community Surveys, Economic Census and Population Estimates, use the Legacy FactFinder -- both can be accessed at U.S. Census Bureau portal.
In addition to Workforce Connection, Citrus County Business Alliance partners are the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, College of Central Florida, Economic Development Council, Small Business Development Center and SCORE. Read more |
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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.
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. The 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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Submit Your Job Order!
Let WORKFORCE CONNECTION meet your hiring needs. Fill out our convenient Online Job Order Form.
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Employment Update
Joblessness for Citrus, Levy and Marion counties rose slightly during the month of January, but remains under 14 percent for the second consecutive month.
Data for February's unemployment rate will be released on March 25.
WORKFORCE CONNECTION'S region posted a 13.8-percent
unemployment rate,
up 0.2 percent since December 2010 but down 0.2 percent over the year. Read more and/or view year-to-year stats |
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Eliminate Guesswork
Florida's Ready-to-Work program is an employee credentialing program that tests and scores job readiness, demonstrating to employers that Job Seekers have the right skills and attitude for the job.
For Employers, it takes the guesswork out of hiring, saving you time and money. Because Florida Ready-to-Work is sponsored by the state, the program is available at no charge to Job Seekers or Employers. Learn more |
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Free Employee Verification
E-Verify is a fast, free, and easy to use Internet-based service run by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration that allows employers to verify the eligibility of their newly hired employees to legally work in the United States.
E-Verify tells the employer in just seconds if an employee is eligible to work in the U.S. by checking a new employee's employment eligibility information against existing records in the Social Security Administration, DHS and the State Department, depending upon which form of identification the employee presents, and the employee's citizenship or immigration status.
E-Verify is currently used by about 245,000 employers at more than 835,000 worksites. E-Verify is growing rapidly, with more than 1,000 new businesses enrolling each week.
To learn more, sign up for a webinar or enroll, visit E-Verify
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Success Story Spotlight:
Employer Success: The following testimonial about the Learn and Earn internship program comes from Dale Simpson, Ph.D., a psychologist from Family Life Counseling Services, Inc.
"What a pleasure it has been to have one of your interns work for us. I highly commend Workforce Connection and its Internship Program for your outstanding service connecting workers to potential employers. Helping workers expand their knowledge base and skill set, while providing financial support and a work site, simply "rocks."
The staff at Workforce Connection has been easy to work with, professional, and outstanding in its effectiveness. I can't say enough about what great things Workforce Connection is doing for the community. "
Jobseeker Success: Note of thanks from Nancy, now a self-described "productive member of society" to her Employment Counselor Katherine:
"This is the day we have been waiting for! You can close my file, finally. Dr. (David) Willis offered me the position at Ocala West Family Medicine. My internship was a success! I don't know what I would be doing if you had not gotten me into the Learn and Earn Program, what a great opportunity. Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS."
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Grow Your Business
What would it take to help grow your business? Workforce Connection provides comprehensive resources and services tailored to give you the edge in today's competitive economy -- all at no cost to you!
Our staff of trained workforce professionals and industry specialists are ready to meet your needs.
Contact our Business Development Team today at 352-873-7955 or 800-746-9950 or Send Us an Email.
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Stay Up-to-Date!
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| Above photos courtesy Habitat for Humanity (Phoenix Rising Youth Build) and Kathy Morse, College of Central Florida (Census workshop) |
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