The President's Perspective 

There is a spirit of renewal that is ushered in by the fall season, even as Florida's workforce system maintains its mission-driven focus. Helping Floridians enter, remain and advance in the workforce while strengthening the state's business climate and supporting economic development priorities -- regional and statewide  -- continues to be our top priority.

A few reinvigorating indicators for August 2012 that demonstrate our state's economic recovery, though modest, is headed in the right direction include: 

• Job Growth: Florida added 23,200 jobs, continuing a month-to-month trend of positive growth for 11 of the past 14 months and ranking second to Texas nationally for the biggest over-the-month increase in job creation.
• Job Placements: On the frontlines of providing employment and training services, the 24 Regional Workforce Boards reported assisting more than 29,000 Floridians who were placed in jobs.
• Online Job Ads: More than 264,000 job openings were posted online, an increase of more than 33,000 openings compared to one year ago.
• Unemployment Rate: Florida's 8.8 percent unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points lower than the year-ago rate of 10.5 percent and 2.3 percentage points lower than in December 2010.

Even with these encouraging signs, our system recognizes there remains much work ahead. There were 818,000 people in August who were looking for work out of a labor force of 9,261,000. Governor Rick Scott has provided a clear call-to-action to all partners -- public and private -- to ensure we are doing everything we can daily to support job creation and help Floridians get to work.

Our system is working with education, economic development, business, community and government partners to do just that. This report provides a few timely updates regarding our collaborative efforts.

There are also exciting new opportunities on the horizon. At the this week's Future of Florida Forum, Workforce Florida and the Florida Chamber Foundation will announce an exciting initiative in support of the workforce system's strategic priorities to ensure at every level our system and partners have access to information that enhance opportunities for data-driven decisions regarding key strategies that improve alignment and outcomes for top workforce and economic development goals.

We are committed to ensuring Florida realizes its full potential as a global business and talent leader, delivering sustainable and new economic opportunities for Florida families and businesses.

Sincerely,

Chris  

Top 10 Regions for Job Placement

Across the state, Florida's 24 Regional Workforce Boards and the nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers they direct are working to help unemployed Floridians get back to work and businesses connect with the talent they need to compete and succeed.

The Regional Workforce Boards are ranked monthly by the Department of Economic Opportunity based on reported job placements. This ranking allows the workforce system to identify, highlight and replicate best practices and strategies and provides a valuable, real-time measurement and management tool. 

1. Pasco Hernando Workforce Board
2. Chipola Regional Workforce Development Board 
3. WorkNet Pinellas
4. FloridaWorks
5. Workforce Connection
6. Workforce Escarosa
7. Workforce Solutions
8. Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance
9. Florida Crown Workforce Board
10. Brevard Workforce

To find out more about this monthly ranking and view the full report for August job placements, click here.

From Ideas to Profit: Entrepreneurship Training Turns Unemployed into Business Owners  

Entrepreneurship, as one innovative solution for helping unemployed Floridians get back to work, is a primary area of focus for FloridaWorks. Operating in partnership with the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Workforce Board provides workforce services in Alachua and Bradford counties.

Recognized as a national leader in state workforce entrepreneurship training, FloridaWorks now is replicating its Startup Quest program. Developed by the board, Startup Quest initially was funded by Workforce Florida Inc. to provide training to out-of-work professionals with college degrees. The expansion to seven regions throughout the state is made possible through an $11.95 million U.S. Department of Labor grant.

Along with FloridaWorks, the regional boards that make up the Business Advocacy and Self-Employment Consortium are: Workforce Plus (Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties), WorkSource (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties), The Center for Business Excellence (Flagler and Volusia counties), Brevard Workforce,  Workforce One (Broward County), Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance and WorkNet Pinellas.  

Gary Kinsey, of Gainesville, is among Florida entrepreneurs who have benefitted from the FloridaWorks training. Unemployed after losing his physical therapist job, Kinsey was initially reluctant when contacted about StartUp Quest because of past unsuccessful business ventures. After changing his mind, he met other out-of-work, but highly motivated professionals who provided both inspiration and camaraderie. Today, Kinsey is CEO and Founder of North Florida Medical Solutions, which brought its first product, the CathStrap®, to market this year. The device prevents catheter backflow responsible for infections in patients. 

"Startup Quest gave me the opportunity to make a great product available to help prevent these infections, which cost hospitals billions annually and, in the worst cases, can cost patients their lives," said Kinsey. 

He obtained the CathStrap® invention concept from a Startup Quest partner, the University of Florida's Office of Technology and Licensing, which seeks out companies to take UF research inventions to market. Florida colleges and universities have an abundance of technology available for commercialization. 

"Our state is rich in talented, educated people looking for work as well as technology available for development by entrepreneurs," said FloridaWorks Executive Director Kim Tesch-Vaught. "Startup Quest educates job seekers about technology transfer and how to turn ideas into profits."