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Greetings!
There are a number of items that are being finalized as I write this. For starters, there is agreement on reorganization of economic development and the new organization. From a workforce perspective, two things happened: first, the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) will be transitioned to the new Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) effective October 1. In moving it to OEO, the Early Learning Office - our local early learning coalition - was moved to the Department of Education for oversight and administration. This should create a better focus on implementing projects that benefit our ability to provide workforce services. A second aspect is that the legislation clearly states that AWI supports WFI. We will have to see how this role is implemented.
In our region we have been busy. For the past year we have been working with our one- stop provider to improve services. Our focus is simple, not glitzy: hard work for our customers. Our business development staff has reached out to more than 420 businesses in Levy County to explain our services and ask for their business- job orders. Pat Reddish, our Board chair has sent a letter to all of our vendors that do not currently use our services. That letter explains our services and asks for them to use our services and list their employment openings with us. ALL our staff members, board and contractor, have been asked to do the same thing with businesses that they frequent - that is, explain what we do and ask for their job orders.
At the end of the session, the Legislature passed a budget which, given the options they had before them, was very supportive of the local workforce system. Budget reductions were unavoidable, but the conference report on the budget favored the House position, which only reduced workforce funds by $9 million. The cuts could have been $21.5 million because of a $60-million reduction in funding that Florida received from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Rusty Skinner, CEO
Workforce Connection
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Spotlight on Employer Successes
Learn and Earn and Florida Ready to Work programs
Experience counts isn't just a catch-phrase for Clay Lehman, co-founder of Resolute Asset Management. Though the company is just two years old, its team of six packs more than 50 years experience in capital markets. To date, Resolute has closed properties in 47 states.
So when Resolute's business really started to take off about eight months ago, Lehman turned to Workforce Connection's Learn and Earn On the Job Training (OJT) and Subsidized Adult Interns programs to meet Resolute's needs. The OJT program reimburses businesses up to 90 percent of a new hire's wages during their training period. With the Internship program, Workforce Connection pays adult interns a stipend of up to $400 per week for 12 weeks. Learn how the programs paid off. Read Resolute Asset's Success Story
For Lockheed Martin, quality isn't just job one, it's a matter of life and death. That's because "people's lives literally depend on our products working the first time, every time," said Billy Hamilton, senior human resources manager for Lockheed Martin's Ocala Operations.
That degree of excellence requires a highly skilled workforce. But with the cost and complexities of Lockheed Martin's extensive training program, how does Hamilton know the company's new hires have the right stuff? Simple: he turns to the Florida Ready to Work credential program. The program tests and scores job skills and work habits and awards Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. Lockheed Martin only accepts candidates that pass with a Gold or Silver credential.
Hamilton said that in 2007, the pass rate was "at best 40 percent." From June 2010 through May 2011, 750 candidates were tested and 671 or 89.5 percent passed with Gold or Silver certificates.
Learn more about the Ready to Work program and how it helped Lockheed Martin increase its training pass rate from 40 to 70 percent. Read Lockheed Martin's Success Story |
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Monster Talent Marketplace (Job Fair)
Find your new employees on May 23
Employers, this is your opportunity to meet some of the extraordinary talent available in Marion, Citrus and Levy counties! The Talent Marketplace takes place Monday, May 23 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the College of Central Florida Klein Conference Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. There is absolutely no charge to participate. You will meet face-to-face with job candidates with related education and experience who bring polished resumes and are ready to interview. In addition, the Talent Marketplace offers:
An accelerated, efficient and cost-effective recruiting process
Visibility that adds value to your business
Logistical support provided by Workforce Connection's team
For information or to register, call 352-873-7939, ext. 1141 or 800-434-JOBS, ext. 11410. Learn more or register online |
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Phoenix Rising Key Ceremony June 2
Community project for housing and employment
A dynamic community effort comes to a successful close on June 2 when the keys to the Phoenix Rising youth build project are handed over to new homeowners, Kerry and Sabrina Cook.
The key ceremony takes place at 9 a.m. at the homesite, 1560 NW 14th St., followed by graduation of the young adults who participated in the project, and a reception at the Zion United Methodist Church, 510 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Phoenix Rising, a 16-week program which began in February, provided out-of-school youth ages 18-21 the opportunity to work toward their GEDs or high school diploma as well as learning soft and hard skills as they trained and constructed the home.
The Cooks were selected by Habitat for Humanity of Marion County and have contributed nearly 220 hours of sweat equity on the build.
In what was truly a collaborative effort, Workforce Connection supported Phoenix Rising by making employment and training components of the project a reality with funding from the US Department of Labor earmarked for training stipends and staff.
"The success goes beyond training the students (and) includes empowering the neighborhood and restoring a sense of community in young adults," said CEO Rusty Skinner. "We are certainly proud of the project and present it ... as a perfect example of how Workforce Connection collaborates and builds local partnerships."
Partners include the Ocala Police Department, City of Ocala, Habitat for Humanity, Henkels & McCoy Training Services Group, Yandle Building Supply, DeLuca Toyota, Home Depot, Veolia Environmental, Zion United Methodist Church and PRIDE Enterprises. Learn more |
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Happenings in Citrus and Levy counties
Community/veterans outreach and career fair
Staff participated in a Community and Veterans Outreach program in Inverness on April 30. The outreach was sponsored by the Hunger and Homeless Coalition of Citrus County, Inc., and medical professionals.
Free services offered included medical exams and flu, pneumonia, H1N1 and tetanus shots; referral for eye glasses and hearing aids; dental exams; counseling; and HIV/AIDS testing. Workforce Connection was on hand to provide employment services to veterans. Among the other partner agencies onsite were Volunteer of America Mobile Medical Unit, The Centers, Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast, Homeless Veteran Services , Salvation Army and Access Florida.
Workforce Connection also participated in a Career Fair and Open House on April 27 at Williston High School and on April 30 at Lecanto High School. |
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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.
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.
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.
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New Minimum Wage:
6-cent increase now set
The Florida minimum wage will increase to $7.31 per hour from the current wage of $7.25, effective June 1, 2011.
Employers must pay their employees the hourly state minimum wage for all hours worked in Florida. Tipped employees earn a direct hourly wage of $4.29 starting June 1.
Learn more
Download Florida Minimum Wage Poster in English or Spanish |
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Drop in unemployment rate not necessarily sign of economic recovery
Joblessness in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties dropped in April from 12.1 to 11.7 percent over the month, and was down 1.1 percent over the year. According to information released May 20 by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Citrus County may be the only area in the Workforce Connection region to show modest signs of recovery.
The unemployment rate for Workforce Connection's three-county region is 1.3 percentage points above Florida's rate of 10.4 percent - the lowest state rate since September 2009. The national unemployment rate is 8.7 percent.
Citrus County's unemployment dropped from 11.6 percent to 11 percent, while the number of those with jobs increased from 51,251 to 51,580 and its labor force - the number of those actively seeking employment, not just those collecting unemployment benefits - remained unchanged at 57,974.
See regional report
See state report Read more |
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Reorganization planned to offset budget shortfall
Workforce Connection's board of directors voted May 19 to reorganize operations to brace for deep budget cuts moving into the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Key to that reorganization is shifting the day-to-day operations and management of Workforce Connection's one-stop system under the management and direction of the board. Those operations had previously been contracted to the Withlacoochee Workforce Development Authority (WWDA).
The move is intended to help make up an anticipated $6.5 million budget shortfall, which includes state cuts to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Reorganization of the management function, coupled with streamlining staff, is targeted to ensure maximum funding for direct customer services. A revised staffing plan is anticipated by mid-June. Read more |
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Power of One multiplied:
Two sessions in June
Save the Dates: June is a two-fer month. Starting on June 14 at 11:30 a.m., the Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will lead Ask a PR Pro roundtables discussions about PR for small and nonprofit businesses. The following week, on June 21 at 7:30 a.m., Workforce Connection's business development team will provide a comprehensive tour of free business services, including recruiting, assessment, hiring and training programs and financial incentives and tax breaks.
Power of One workshops are sponsored by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber in partnership and Workforce Connection. Learn more |
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Submit Your Job Order!
Let Workforce Connection meet your hiring needs. Fill out our convenient Online Job Order Form
For details about Workforce Connection's comprehensive services, at no charge to you, contact our Business Development Team at 352-873-7955 or 800-746-9950 or send us an email
Also, did you know that as an employer, you may post your own jobs in the Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM)? The job bank allows you to create your own account to post job orders, review resumes and even contact job seekers directly. |
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