Governor Crist Expresses His Gratitude to Florida's Workforce System, Highlights Priorities for Job Creation

Addressing the Workforce Florida Board of Directors at their February meeting, Governor Charlie Crist outlined key priorities for reinvigorating the state economy and thanked workforce-system volunteer leaders and professionals for "the hard work and long hours ... devoted" to providing employment and training assistance to Floridians and businesses in our state. Florida's workforce professionals are "a team of people ... dedicated to making sure that we turn this economy around," Governor Crist said.

Workforce Florida Board Takes Next Steps to Advance New Strategic Plan and Key Actions to Help Floridians Get Back to Work

Throughout the strategic planning process, Workforce Florida's Board was clear the new plan would not just sit on a shelf, but serve as a living document for guiding the state's workforce priorities and investments for the next five years. Creating the Strategy for Today's Needs and Tomorrow's Talent, the 2010-2015 State Strategic Plan for Workforce Development, was delivered to the Governor and Legislature in January. An orientation to the plan -- and the six strategic goals for developing Florida's workforce -- was a top agenda item for the February meetings. With these goals in mind, Workforce Florida's Councils and full Board took several actions designed to direct even more resources to efforts to help unemployed Floridians get back to work and employed Floridians improve their skills. These actions include:

• Distributing an additional $3 million in state Rapid Response funds to the 24 Regional Workforce Boards to assist laid-off workers.

• Directing an additional $800,000 to the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grant program, administered by Workforce Florida. IWT grants reimburse for-profit Florida businesses for a portion of their expenses for providing skills upgrade training to their full-time workers. IWT is a popular tool for small businesses in Florida.

• Creating, through a joint effort with Space Florida, an Aerospace Workforce Ad-Hoc Committee, which will direct state workforce investment in response to the retirement of the shuttle program and plans to grow the state's transitioning aerospace industry.

• Approval of the 2010-2011 Targeted Industries List, which is created in accordance with the Career and Professional Education Act and developed in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. School districts use the list for planning and designing career academy programs that support their regional economies.
  

Additionally, noting its unequivocal commitment to accountability, the Board voted unanimously to recommend the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance (TBWA) Board place its President and CEO Renee Gilmore on unpaid administrative leave pending the conclusion of current investigations. The recommendation came in response to the findings of the Agency for Workforce Innovation Inspector General's investigation of food expenditures by TBWA. Since this action by the Board, Ms. Gilmore has resigned and TBWA has named WorkNet Pinellas President and CEO Ed Peachey as its interim leader while it conducts a search for a new, permanent leader. Ed will divide his time between the two workforce regions. Meanwhile, Chair Keiser has reached out directly to TBWA Board Chair Dale Schumacher to offer state technical assistance as TBWA continues its work to restore financial accountability and repair public confidence in the delivery of workforce services in Hillsborough County.

Chair Launches New Legislative Ambassadors Program

A new initiative of Chair Belinda Keiser, Workforce Florida's Legislative Ambassadors Program was established to educate the state's Legislature and Congressional Delegation about Florida's unique and nationally recognized approach to workforce development. The program is designed to cultivate a greater understanding of the workforce system's efforts to help Floridians enter, remain and advance in the workforce while strengthening the state's business climate and supporting economic development priorities. Ambassadors work to enhance awareness about the policies and priorities of Workforce Florida's Board of Directors. An orientation for new ambassadors was held on February 10. Chair Keiser and I are grateful to the following leaders who have stepped up to support this important initiative: Dan Baldwin, Leslie Ingram, Everett Kelly, Eric Kennedy, Cynthia Lorenzo, Alex Moseley, Andy Perez, Barbara Pippin (for David Armstrong), Linda Sparks, Al Stimac and Gabe Sheheane (for Mark Wilson). We also are appreciative of the work of Workforce Florida Director of Government Relations April Money for implementing the Legislative Ambassadors Program.

Quick Response Training Grants Funding a Legislative Priority

During the 2010 legislative session, Workforce Florida will work through its Ambassadors Program and with its workforce and economic development partners to support the Governor's recommended $3.3 million appropriation for the Quick Response Training (QRT) grant program. The appropriation would hold the line on QRT funding approved by legislators last year. QRT reimburses new and expanding Florida businesses that create new jobs for a portion of their training costs. QRT offers businesses the opportunity to decide not only what training they need, but also who delivers it to employees. In some instances, QRT also can be used for training that supports in job retention. With a strong track record for low administrative overhead and a lack of red-tape requirements, QRT is a key contributor to Florida's reputation, among businesses and site selection consultants for having some of the best workforce training programs in the nation. Learn more about how QRT is supporting job retention and creation in Florida and the return on public investment.

Florida Leaders Come Together to Bolster Transitioning Aerospace Industry

Facing historical changes to Florida's aerospace industry, state and business leaders recently convened at the Florida Statewide Space Industry Summit during which Governor Crist announced five bills designed to support and revitalize Florida's leadership in this industry.

Workforce Florida is committed to sustaining Florida's legacy industries - including aerospace - and their skilled workers as we move toward economic resurgence and a new and vibrant state economy. On the Summit agenda to address our commitment at a tactical level, and speak on aerospace workforce issues, was Vice President of Business and Workforce Development Opportunities Andra S. Cornelius, CEcD. Andra's remarks focused on the importance of strategic direction and demonstrated how the 2010-2015 State Strategic Plan for Workforce Development aligns with economic development priorities for Florida's aerospace industry. Some examples include Workforce Florida's investment in strengthening the state's talent pool in science, technology engineering and math (STEM); formation of the new Aerospace Workforce Ad-Hoc Committee; and our ongoing partnership with Space Florida and Enterprise Florida.