President's Report Masthead
President's Report
May/June 2010
Distributed July 16, 2010
Gulf Recovery Update 
 
Governor's Gulf Oil Spill Economic Task Force Underway
While the most recent efforts to stop the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are encouraging, our state continues to focus on assessing and responding to the ongoing economic and environmental implications for Florida. As Chair of the Governor's Oil Spill Economic Task Force, our top priority is ensuring that the responsible party, British Petroleum, provides the financial and other support necessary to restore the livelihoods of Floridians, our businesses, economy and our state's natural assets adversely affected by the Gulf of Mexico spill.
 
The 30-member task force, on which Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) Director Cynthia Lorenzo also serves, was created through an executive order by Governor Charlie Crist. It is charged with coordinating state efforts to assist affected businesses and industries, monitoring BP's efforts in providing financial relief to those affected and coordinating processes and efforts to gather economic loss data and industry economic indicators. It also is providing direction related to Florida's marketing plan to ensure the vitality of Florida businesses and, in particular, the tourism industry. It is responsible for monthly reports and will present its recommendations to the Governor. The task force has established three working groups:  Economic Impact Assessment, Communications and BP Claims Processing. To date, the task force has meet twice in Tallahassee on June 9 and Pensacola on June 30.
 
We have heard, and continue to hear, from business owners, citizens, local elected officials, state agencies, including AWI, involved in the state's response and recovery efforts and, of course, BP, among many others. To date, our work has been aimed at fact-finding and situation assessment. The Department of Environmental Protection is Florida's lead agency in responding to the spill and its website serves as a clearinghouse for the latest information including contact information for filing claims.
 
Florida's workforce system is among the entities that have ramped up its response efforts. The workforce system is helping to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and companies hiring for cleanup and recovery jobs. Those efforts have included a new website, FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com (more information on the site is below) and the recruitment, screening and referral of more 27,000 job seekers to BP and its contractors and subcontractors. Recently the U.S. Department of Labor announced a $7 million National Emergency Grant to AWI to support the re-employment and training needs of Florida workers who are laid-off as a result of the oil spill and need assistance to transition to other industries.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Florida's workforce professionals, state and local, for their work on behalf of Floridians and our state, again demonstrating that our demand-driven system can rise to the challenge.
 
Also as significant as this spill is both economically and environmentally, it is important to note that there are thousands of miles of pristine Florida shoreline that have not been directly affected by oil resulting from the spill. Our beautiful state is very much open for business, our beaches are open and our Florida seafood is safe.
 
Governor Launches Oil Spill Jobs Website
Governor Crist recently announced the launch of FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com, a state website designed to connect job seekers to employers hiring for positions created in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon incident.  The site is a collaborative effort of Workforce Florida Inc. and AWI in partnership with the state's 24 Regional Workforce Boards. Positions on FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com are verified by regional workforce boards as employers post them. Floridians also may call 1-877-362-5034 (from 7:30 a.m. to 6  p.m. ET, Monday through Friday) to learn more about available jobs related to response and recovery efforts.
 
Since its launch, FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com has listed more than 12,000 positions related to response and recovery efforts and additional jobs are posted daily. Priority has been placed on ensuring Floridians from the local communities affected by the spill are hired first for these spill-related jobs.
Elevate America in Florida 
 
Elevate America news conference
Elevate America press conference

Nearly 19,000 Floridians Sign Up for Microsoft Training and Certifications
Advancing our workforce system's No. 1 goal of getting Floridians back to work, Workforce Florida is committed to increasing digital access and literacy in Florida. Now through Microsoft� Elevate America -- and a public-private partnership between Microsoft and Workforce Florida -- the State of Florida has an opportunity to improve the technology skills our workforce and Floridians are responding to this opportunity for no-cost or low-cost training and certifications. The diligent work of the state's 24 Regional Workforce Boards has resulted in the request for and distribution of nearly 19,000 Elevate America vouchers for E-Learning, Certification exams and IT Professional training since May 24.
 
A total of 40,000 vouchers are available to Floridians through this initiative, launched by Governor Charlie Crist and Microsoft along with Workforce Florida, AWI and the Regional Workforce Boards. I would like to thank Microsoft again for its generous donation and our Governor for getting Microsoft to increase Florida's voucher count from 35,000 to 40,000. I also want to thank our staff at Workforce Florida, AWI and the Regional Workforce Boards and congratulate them for their role in helping us ensure these vouchers reach the Floridians who need them to enhance their skills and advance employment and career opportunities.   
 
Florida is among dozens of states participating in Elevate America. Microsoft seeks to provide up to 1 million training and certification exam vouchers nationwide. Additional information about the Florida program, local contact information and an electronic application for Florida vouchers are available online.
 

Workforce Readiness and Performance

Jay Barber to Lead Workforce Readiness and Performance
I am proud to announce that Jay Barber recently was named as the new Vice President of Workforce Readiness and Performance for Workforce Florida. In this role, he will continue his responsibilities as General Counsel. He also will lead our efforts to coordinate workforce programs with AWI, Regional Workforce Boards and other partners and direct Workforce Florida's performance accountability, policy development and oversight efforts pursuant to Chapter 445, Florida Statutes. Additionally, Jay will direct our work to guide, negotiate and administer Workforce Florida's federally required workforce plan in compliance with the U.S. Department of Labor and pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act. His knowledge of federal and state workforce laws and rules and regulations as well as his experience will allow us to seamlessly advance our efforts to make our new strategic vision for Florida a reality.

Engaging Florida's Business Leaders
I was delighted to participate in the Florida Sterling Council's annual conference, The Ultimate Business Huddle, first at the executive roundtable and then as the closing keynote speaker.

My remarks covered several topics including securing talent and staying competitive, workforce services and tools available to support Florida businesses and the Governor's economic priorities and agenda. More than 100 high-level executives attended the roundtable and contributed to a robust discussion about ways to engage in state efforts to bolster economic recovery. It was invigorating to participate in this dialogue with some of the strongest voices and brightest minds in the Florida's business community. 
 
In my keynote address, I focused on state economic and workforce priorities, including ongoing efforts to diversifying our economy. In doing so, I highlighted the importance of collaborative partnerships in developing the talent needed to support and sustain industries with the potential to increase economic diversity and give Floridians access to meaningful work opportunities. Key to this point was Workforce Florida's strategic vision, Creating the Strategy for Today's Needs and Tomorrow's Talent, designed to aid Florida's economic recovery and position our state for future global competitiveness through talent development.
 

Governance

Workforce Florida Board Approves 2010-2011 Workforce System Budget
At its May quarterly meeting, the Workforce Florida Board of Directors approved the 2010-2011 Budget for Florida's workforce system with an eye toward continuing to align our investment with the state's new six strategic goals: World-Class Service to Florida's Target Industry Clusters; World-Class Service to Florida's Infrastructure Innovators; Top National and State Leadership for the Demand-Driven Solution; Aligned, Responsive, Jointly Engaged Talent Supply Chain Team; Outstanding Business Communications and Intelligence for Performance and Accountability; and Dedicated Commitment to Change Management and Transformation.
 
As is customary, Regional Workforce Boards Chairs were invited attend and this year had an opportunity to share both a success and a challenge with State Board leaders. This meeting also was noteworthy for the policy steps taken by the Workforce Florida Board in direct response to Regional Workforce Board legislation approved by the Legislature during this year's session aimed at improving transparency and accountability. State and local workforce partners are steadfastly committed to maintaining the integrity of our workforce system and ensuring the highest and best use of the public funds entrusted to us to help Floridians enter and advance in the workforce while strengthening the state's business climate.

Strategic Plan Update

Five-year Plan for Workforce Development in Action
Since last summer, when we began working on the new, five-year state strategic plan for workforce development, I've used this report to keep you informed about, and engaged in, our collaborative work to define the strategic goals that would guide our workforce investment and actions. As you know this work led to the plan, Creating the Strategies for Today's Needs and Tomorrow's Talent, and its six strategic goals that will help us to realize those overarching priorities. As we have focused in 2010 on implementing this plan through our operations, I am proud to report that these goals are infused in everything we do here at Workforce Florida, every day.
 
The goals and achievements have been distilled into 14 projects that have been assigned to Workforce Florida staff units and Councils and Committees. Strides toward achieving our goals already are being made in the areas including digital access, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) coordination, business competitiveness and developing Florida's Talent Supply Chain Team.

Workforce and Economic Development

Employ Florida Banner Centers Update
This year has been a busy one for Workforce Florida's Employ Florida Banner Centers initiative. Workforce Florida has issued requests for proposals for five new Banner Centers in key economic sectors: creative industries, financial and professional services, travel and tourism, information technologies and life sciences. Proposals are due August 10.

This past spring, a collaboration meeting, held at Polk State College and designed to encourage partnership and resource-sharing among Banner Centers and Regional Workforce Boards, was attended by leaders from both as well as representatives from Workforce Florida, AWI and other partners. Workforce Florida Chair Belinda Keiser is a champion of the endeavor to forge greater partnership among Regional Workforce Boards and Banner Centers. In her message to meeting participants, she noted the urgency of collaboration in achieving our common goal of getting Floridians back to work, recognized the pivotal role of Banner Centers and Regional Workforce Boards in supporting economic diversity and identified some mutual challenges for which Banner Centers and Regional Workforce Boards can serve as mutual resources to improve the skills of Florida workers in key industries.

Accolades

CNBC Ranks Florida's Workforce No.1 in Nation for Second Time
I am elated that Florida's workforce again has achieved the No. 1 ranking in CNBC's annual America's Top States for Business study. The fourth annual study, released this week, put the Sunshine State's workforce at the top among all 50 states. Florida moved up from the No. 3 spot in 2009, reclaiming the No. 1 ranking it held in 2008. To receive the No. 1 ranking for the second time is a testament to the tenacity of our workforce and to contributions from Florida's workforce professionals, volunteer Board leaders and partners, in fostering excellent programs and collaborative partnerships that ensure we are creating and sustaining highly skilled talent.
                        
The workforce rankings in CNBC's annual study are based on several indicators, including the education level of the workforce, the number of available workers, union membership and the relative success of each state's worker training programs in placing participants in jobs. More details on the national study available at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/37516706.
 
As Governor Charlie Crist pointed out in his announcement this week, Florida's workforce system last year provided services including job search, referrals and placement assistance as well as training to more than 1.7 million people. Workforce Florida, AWI and Regional Workforce Boards are committed to addressing the state's workforce needs through innovative and effective strategies, programs and resources.
 
Thanks to our system's collective efforts and to those of the Governor and Legislature in making job training and economic development a top priority, Florida's workforce is once again recognized as the best in the nation.

Employ Florida Marketplace Receives National Recognition
Part of what makes Florida a national workforce leader is our use of technology to connect job seekers and businesses with the array of services offered by Florida's workforce system to help them flourish. Recently, at its Unemployment Insurance and Workforce Technology Conference, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies recognized the Employ Florida Marketplace in the categories of "Most Traffic to a Virtual One-Stop Office Website" and "Five Years of Appreciation."
 
Since its launch in 2005, more than 4 million jobs have been listed on EmployFlorida.com. More than 30,000 visitors use the site daily to search for jobs, screen applicant resumes and research the latest labor market statistics.

Florida Ranked Highly for Workforce Development and Infrastructure Performance
In addition to CNBC, there has been another recent national recognition of Florida's talent development efforts. Florida ranked No. 2 among top performing workforce development and training states in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation's report Enterprising States: Creating Jobs, Economic Development, and Prosperity in Challenging Times. The report cites several workforce services such as the Employ Florida Marketplace, Florida Ready to Work and Florida's 93 One-Stop Centers as resources that give "job seekers a competitive edge," and that "take(s) the guesswork out of hiring, saving time and money." Enterprising States bases its ranking in this category on several benchmarks, including workforce development system performance, affordability, higher-education output and more. 

Florida also ranked No. 1 in the "Top Infrastructure Performer" category in the same report, which referred to Florida as "the nexus of the Western Hemisphere's transportation links." Enterprising States based its ranking in this category on three factors: share of lines that are high-speed, share of zip codes with at least five high-speed providers, and residential high-speed penetration rate.
Key Dates  

 

August 17-19: Enterprise Florida Board/Stakeholders Meetings. Coral Gables


August 26: Space Florida Board of Directors Meeting. Kennedy Space Center

 

October 11-12: Florida Chamber Future of Florida ForumOrlando

Thank you for your commitment to creating a world-class workforce in Florida.
 
Sincerely,

Chris Hart Signature

Chris Hart IV
President/CEO
Workforce Florida, Inc.
Table of Contents
Gulf Recovery Update
Elevate America
Workforce Readiness and Performance
Governance
Strategic Plan Update
Workforce and Economic Development
Accolades
Key Dates
Workforce Snapshot
Florida's
Workforce:

9,237,000

Unemployment Rate:
11.4%

Job Growth:
 
Total Government
Up 19,800
 
Professional and Business Services Up 16,300
 
Trade, Transportation and Utilities
Up 1,900
 
Other Services
Up 1,900

Private Education and Health Services
Up 29,600
 

Source: Florida Labor Market Statistics Center (June 2010 data)