The story of the Capital Area Region's workforce is one of prosperity and one of disparity, according to State of the Workforce report by Workforce Solutions Capital Area. The report takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of workforce and employment in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.  It considers both the labor supply (the education and skills of the workers who live here) and the demand that employers have for workers.

The report notes there are two sides to the workforce coin in the Austin region.  On one hand the area is a hotbed for new businesses and attracts young, educated workers from throughout the U.S. But on the other hand, there are growing disparities along racial and ethnic lines in educational attainment, employment, and income.  With poverty rates the highest among child populations, these disparities will worsen unless we take action to help this future workforce gain the skills to be successful.

The report concludes with recommendations that include a call for a region-wide strategy to align education, workforce development and economic development.

Only half of Central Texas children enter school developmentally ready to learn. In predominately low-income neighborhoods, that rate drops as low as 13%. United Way Greater Austin, The City of Austin, Travis County and other early childhood stake-holders have worked together to develop a three-year plan to help more young children in Central Texas enter school ready to learn. 

The School Readiness Action Plan for Austin/Travis County is a strategic effort to invest in the future of our community by increasing the total percent of children who enter school ready to learn to 70% by 2015. The report notes that every $1 invested in early education yields a return on investment of $4.10 to $9.20.   

State sales tax collections and franchise tax revenues have already surpassed projections set by the State Comptroller last year.  The Austin American Statesman reports that, in spite of this, State agencies were instructed Monday to create budgets for the 2014-15 biennium that maintain the spending levels of the current biennium.  The budget approved in the last legislative session included $14 billion in cuts with deep reductions in public schools and higher education.  Holding the line on spending would require even deeper cuts to account for population growth and inflation.  Agencies have also been asked to draft budgets that call for a 10% reduction. 

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The Travis County Trend Profile provides an at-a-glance, 20-year profile of the Travis County community using data primarily from the decennial Censuses and includes demographic, household, economic and social characteristics relevant to the field of human services.  By providing data points in 10-year intervals, spanning 1990 to 2010, the profile provides a long view for understanding population growth and demographic change in Travis County.

The profiles were created by the Research & Planning Division of the Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service Department.  The maps depict data for age and racial & ethnic composition by zip code and also by census tract. 

Today's Hogg Blog  says a recent decision by the University of Texas Board of Regents to support new medical schools in South Texas and Central Texas could have far-reaching implications for improving healthcare in the State.  The Board of Regents has pledged a minimum of $25 million a year from the permanent university fund for the new school of medicine for Central Texas, but the funds are contingent on a continuing stream of $35 million a year in medical school support from the local community.   The blog challenges the local community to seize this opportunity to create "a diverse healthcare workforce that is dedicated to the elimination of health disparities that are affecting so many of our communities; and a holistic, recovery-oriented, culturally and linguistically competent integrated healthcare delivery system." 

The City of Austin neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department has released a draft FY 2012-23 Action Plan describing community needs, resources and priorities for the City's housing, community development, economic development, and public services activities.

The Action Plan outlines how the City intends to spend an expected $10.8 million in federal grant funds.  The funding represents a 12% decrease in the funding received through these grants in fiscal year 2011-12. 

Proposed Federal Entitlement Grant Funding

• Community Development Block Grants              $6.7M
• HOME Investment Partnership                          $2.4M
• Emergency Solutions Grant                               $0.6M
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AISDS   $1.1M
• TOTAL                                       $10.8M

A public hearing before the Community Development Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12th at 6:30 p.m. at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street.  A public hearing before the Austin City Council will be held at or after 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 in Council Chambers.