Workforce Florida Training Grants Off to Strong Start
for Fiscal Year
Since July 1, Workforce Florida has awarded $1,033,741 in Quick Response Training (QRT) grants to six companies: AAA Auto Club South, ALDI Florida LLC, Deutsch Bank, Parametric Solutions, TATA Business Solutions and Website Pros, Inc. These companies also have committed to match the state investment with an additional $9,595,647 for training 920 workers.
 
Additionally, Workforce Florida has awarded $155,800 in Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants to eight companies: AO Precision Manufacturing LLC, Gilco, Inc., Hollywood Woodwork, RehaMed International, RMS Communications, Inc., Structural Composites, Inc., Tandel Systems, Inc. and V&C Tech, Inc. These companies plan to invest an additional $463,376 in upgrading the skills of 198 of their employees.
 
Lt. Governor Kottkamp Joins in Launching Banner Center
for Digital Media
Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp recently joined Workforce Florida and Seminole Community College to officially launch the new Employ Florida Banner Center for Digital Media. The center aims to ensure Florida has the talent necessary to fuel its expanding digital media industry. Started with a $500,000 grant from Workforce Florida, it is based at Seminole Community College's (SCC) new Center for Economic Development at Heathrow.
 
Joining Lt. Governor Kottkamp and me for the news conference kick off were Colleen Wheeler McCreary, Electronic Arts Global HR Director of Strategic Education and Outreach Initiatives, and Dr. E. Ann McGee, SCC President.
 
For more information on the Banner Centers initiative, click here.
 
Rural Workers Gain Access to Energy Industry Training
Up to $1.5 million in Quick Response Training (QRT) funds are slated for use in preparing newly hired and/or currently employed workers for utility industry opportunities in Florida's rural counties. Training may include occupations associated with energy, alternative energy, water, wastewater, solar, photovoltaic and other critical occupations. This new initiative seeks to boost employment and workforce development in rural communities in a growing and critical industry sector.
 
Florida Ready to Work Pilot Coming Soon
Workforce Florida has partnered with the Florida Department of Education and Worldwide Interactive Network, Inc. to develop a pilot for Florida Ready to Work, part of a national effort to assess the readiness of job seekers in applied mathematics, reading and locating information. Workforce Florida is providing state-level business outreach and working with Regional Workforce Boards engaged in local business outreach and skills profiling for in-demand occupations.

Florida Receives up to $20 Million in Emergency Workforce Funds
Under Governor Charlie Crist's direction, and coordinated by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the state workforce system has received a National Emergency Grant (NEG) of up to $20 million, with $8 million initially released to assist in economic recovery in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay. With approval from Workforce Florida and through coordination with Regional Workforce Boards in areas severely affected by the storm, these emergency funds are being deployed to support recovery efforts ranging from humanitarian to workforce needs.
 
Additionally, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), Workforce Florida is seeking a waiver that would provide for Small Capitalization grants to small businesses to assist them in resuming operations.

Workforce Florida Works to Link Technology and Seniors
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has selected Florida as one of eight states to participate in a policy academy focused on civic engagement of older adults. Workforce Florida is actively involved in the effort to provide technology solutions that will match job opportunities to the skills and preferences of Florida seniors, through the development of an online portal. 
 
Employ Florida Update
Florida's "virtual one stop" system, the Employ Florida Marketplace  continues to track record usage of its career tools and job-search features. With more than 70,000 unique visitors daily and nearly 700,000 resumes posted on the Web site, EmployFlorida.com is the leading platform in the country for labor market matching. Through the use of "spidering" to pull job openings from myriad sources, the Employ Florida Marketplace has facilitated more than 16 million job referrals since its launch two years ago. Through affinity partnerships that include CareerBuilder.com and the state of Florida's online veterans' resource, FloridaVetsFirst.com, referrals should grow by more than one million each year.