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Greetings!
One of the critical issues in the region's economic development is the lack of post-high school educational attainment. In many ways it can be a "chicken and egg" proposition - we don't have talent and therefore cannot lure the industry that needs that talent; we can't get high school students to pursue post high school education because there are no jobs.
Well, building a talent base for an economic "vision" is not something that will happen overnight, but it can happen. It requires education and investments. In just about every industry, technology skills are required, yet we have no strong base of technology industries, just businesses that use technology. This information needs to get to the parents and students in our school systems. Businesses that have these workers should work with their school districts in their career-awareness programs and even consider showcasing their companies and the jobs in these areas to parents and students. This worked when the Marion County School Board was "building" Marion Technical Institute.
Workforce Connection is ready to invest. Needed critical support for economic development is making an investment in post high school education that supports our critical industries. Realizing this, our Board approved scholarships to students who are pursuing education beyond high school in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers as well as other targeted industries needed to grow our economy and support existing businesses. The Board designated a minimum of $60,000 or $20,000 for each school district. Working with school district staff in all three counties, eligible students are awarded two-year scholarships.
What can you do? Have you ever thought about working with students as interns? If you are interested, contact Gail Buzard at 352-840-5762 or gbuzard@clmworkforce.com and let us help you build your talent base.
Rusty Skinner, CEO
Workforce Connection
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Spotlight on Employer : Jenkins Auto Group
Opportunity + Hard Work + Attitude = SUCCESS!
When it comes to giving someone a chance, Jose Alonso's philosophy is a simple one: "Everybody rides in my boat."
That's a perspective born of Alonso's own determination to succeed in this country, arriving as part of the mass emigration of Cubans during the Mariel boatlift in 1980.
"It was very rough. That's why I say, everybody rides ... I'll give you all the training and tools necessary for you to better your situation," said Alonso of his hiring philosophy as Internet e-Commerce director for Central Florida's Jenkins Auto Group in Ocala. "I give everybody an opportunity; it's up to them to use it."
And Dan Bennett did not disappoint.
"Workforce Connection is the missing link to your success," Alonso said, when asked what advise he'd offer other employers. "You need to try it, you've got nothing to lose."
Read why Jenkins Auto Group uses Workforce Connection to turn good job candidates into great employees. Jenkins Success Story
Pictured L-R: Dan Bennett, Internet Sales Consultant, and his boss, Jose Alonso of Jenkins Auto Group in Ocala.
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Workforce investment: $60K in scholarships
To date, Workforce Connection has awarded $45,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Citrus and Marion counties, with awards planned for Levy County later this month.
The scholarship program provides up to $5,000 for motivated and achieving income-eligible graduates in each of the Workforce Connection region's three public school districts. The recipients must plan to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) or an occupation in demand from among one of the region's targeted industry sectors.
Citrus County scholarship recipients are Tiffany Charles (Allied Health) and Haley Jones (Registered Nurse), both from Citrus High School, and Crystal River High School graduates William Cleveland (Physical Therapy), Ayla Decaire (Physical Therapy Assisting), and Joseph Roper (Welding Technology).
Marion County scholarship recipients are John Scioch of Lake Weir High School (Engineering); Joseph Rodriguez, Jr., of Marion Technical Institute (Technology); and Brittany Longberry (Dental Hygienist) and David Zarate (Emergency Medical Services), both of Vanguard High School.
Suzanne Mills, Workforce's board chair and human resource director for A&N Corporation of Williston, noted that, "if we are successful, we can help meet the workforce skills needs of local employers to compete in a global economy. It goes without saying that an educated workforce is vital to the success of businesses and the economy in our three counties."
Scholarships cover continuing education costs including tuition, books, fees, labs and supportive services provided by Workforce Connection. A dedicated Workforce Connection Career Specialist will work with the students as they progress through their post-secondary training and eventually seek employment.
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Freelance Talent Hub Creates Buzz
The Freelance Talent Hub initiative launched last month has exceeded expectations. Seventy attended 
an orientation in Ocala on April 25 followed by another 50 in Lecanto on April 30. Enrollment for the subsequent 16-hour, four-week program quickly hit capacity at both class locations (College of Central Florida's Ocala and Citrus County campuses) and a wait-list was established as well as creation of a third, virtual class.
Talent Hub is an alternative workforce strategy to assist professionals in transition through freelancing and by leveraging the growing popularity of crowdsourcing. The program provides access to tools, resources and strategies designed to lead to earning opportunities, project work, contracting and full-time placements in creative, technology and related fields.
The program also provides a solution for local businesses interested in cutting costs by outsourcing certain jobs to people with specific skills, rather than bringing them on as full-time staff. Learn more at Talent Hub.
Pictured: Steve Urquhart, Talent Hub architect and founder of T21Solutions, guides a class in Ocala earlier this week.
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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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Employment Update
For the fifth consecutive month, the region's unemployment rate continued to tumble, falling in April to 9.6 percent - the first time it has hit single digits since November 2008 when it was 9.7 percent.
The April 2012 unemployment rates, released May 18 by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, were 9.7 percent in Marion County, down over the month from 10.3 percent; 9.6 percent in Citrus County, dropping from 10.1 percent; and 8.9 percent in Levy County, down from 9.4 percent. Florida's not seasonally adjusted rate for April is 8.3 percent and the national rate is 7.7 percent.
Get all the Details
Regional Report
Statewide Report
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Spring Fling Career Fair
Students and soon-to-be graduates of the College of Central Florida's (CF) Citrus campus, as well as community job seekers, participated in the first annual Spring Fling Career Fair held at CF in Lecanto on April 25. Approximately 150 job seekers attended. The Career Fair, put on in partnership with the college, also featured 24 area employers. A second Career Fair is in the works for the fall.
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Help Improve Website
We are in the process of rebuilding our website and need your input. Please take just a few moments to complete a short questionnaire. Your comments will help us make our website as useful to you as possible. Website Evaluation Survey
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NetWorker Bulletin
If you missed the latest issue of the new NetWorker
bulletin, or if you'd like to pass along the information about hot jobs and top talent, you can find it on our website.
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Have You Heard?
Workforce Connection was recognized for being among the top 10 ranked regional workforce boards in Florida. Workforce Connection ranked 10th among the state's 24 regional workforce boards for its 677 job placements in April, of those placements 137 had been receiving unemployment compensation. In March, Workforce Connection was ranked fourth.
In a statement released May 11, Gov. Rick Scott noted that "the work of regional boards to connect job seekers with employers looking to hire is instrumental to our ongoing efforts to retain and grow jobs in Florida." Find out more.
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