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Greetings!
What could be better than having your training dollars reimbursed by a grant? Having the classroom come to your location so you can train your employees onsite! I can see this saving travel time, improving attendance, and even encouraging reluctant employees to participate.
The Marion Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) is working with the College of Central Florida and the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership to bring this opportunity to Citrus, Levy and Marion counties' employers.
I'm especially interested in finding out more about two of their offerings: the two-week entry level basic skills course and their Advanced CNC operator course.
As our economy continues to recover we can either compete for existing talent or we can grow our own. I like the idea of taking a great worker and investing in their future. As employers in our community we have an obligation and an opportunity to help increase the talent in our area. With better qualified and prepared workers we can all step up to the next level in our industries.
There will be a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 12:30 p.m. at the College of Central Florida's Ewers Century Center. For information, call 352-840-5764 or read more here.
Darlene Goddard, Board Chair
Workforce Connection
and Executive Director of HR
Winco Mfg., LLC |
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Spotlight: Bravo Supermarkets for Value
'Workforce was at the right place, at right time'
When Bravo Supermarkets prepared to open a new store in Ocala last June, General Manager Flores Batista found himself with a daunting task -- hire 80 bilingual workers in just two weeks. Did we say, "daunting"? Now add to that the fact that Bravo received 1,000 applications for those jobs.
"We were overwhelmed," Batista said. "Workforce Connection was here before we actually went looking ... They were here at the right time and the right place and I'm glad."
Find out how Workforce Connection's fee-free employer services helped Bravo open on time with a great staff.
Pictured L-R: Owners/Management José Batista, Daniel García, Juan Batista, Altagracia García and Flores Batista with Workforce Connection's Roetta Coller.
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Employed Worker Training Pilot Under Way
Manufacturers Association Invests $300K
The Marion Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) has partnered with Workforce Connection  to provide $300,000 in Employed Worker Training (EWT) to those in manufacturing, fabrication and distribution industries throughout the Citrus, Levy and Marion counties region. The program may cover up to 100 percent of businesses' out-of-pocket expenses to train current workers. The goal is to build a talent development system for entry-level careers.
In a unique arrangement, Workforce Connection and MRMA jointly selected Rob Adamiak, MRMA's executive director, to serve as the Business Development and Training Manager for the new program. Rob is based out of Workforce's administrative offices at the Enterprise Center in Ocala and is eager to help businesses get started with this wonderful training opportunity.
To get started, email Rob Adamiak or call him at 352-840-5764.
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Workforce Board Welcomes New Members
Kevin Cunningham, owner of RE/MAX Realty One in Lecanto, has been elected vice chairman of Workforce Connection's board of directors. Cunningham joins Darlene Goddard, introduced last month as the new board chairman, along with the current Secretary/Treasurer Fred Morgan. The three officers will serve two-year terms.
In addition, the following have also joined the 26-member regional workforce board of directors:
Pete Beasely, director of Rasmussen College in Ocala; Theressa Foster, senior executive director of Superior Residences of Lecanto and Sunflower Springs Assisted Living of Homosassa; Diana Hammond, president of Taylor College in Belleview; Patricia Keelean, operations manager for Mid Florida Community Services (serving Citrus County); Ted Knight, Marine Corps League Detachment 819 of Citrus County; Becky Magwood, administrative manager of Capital City Bank in Chiefland; Lanny Mathis, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1205, Gainesville; David Pieklik, executive director of the Nature Coast Business Development Council, Chiefland; Eddie Sencer, Experience Works serving Levy and Marion counties; and Denise Willis, Withlacoochee Technical Institute in Inverness.
The board of directors meets quarterly. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Workforce Connection's Levy County resource center, 109 NW Third Ave., Chiefland.
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September: Record-Setting Job Placements
Workforce Connection reported a record  1,232 job placements for the month of September, of which 299 or 24 percent had been receiving reemployment assistance (unemployment compensation). According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), last month the state's 24 regional workforce boards reported assisting 52,893 Floridians who found employment, including 15,514 who had been receiving reemployment assistance. Workforce Connection's placement rate in September was 22 percent; the average placement rate for the state was 19 percent.
Since January, Workforce Connection has helped 6,719 job seekers find employment.
Also during the month of September, a total of 539 employers in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties posted 1,516 open positions with Workforce Connection compared to September 2011 when 365 employers posted 850 jobs. Regionally, that's a 48 percent increase in the number of employers posting jobs and a 78 percent increase in the number of jobs posted. Here's how each county compares to September 2011:
* Citrus County employers posted 326 new jobs, representing a 123 percent increase
* Levy County posted 52 new jobs, an increase of 85 percent
* Marion County posted 1,138 new jobs, an increase of 68 percent
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About Us
 Mission: Workforce Connection brings together citizens, employers and educational providers to develop programs to support high-quality education/training and employment services to meet regional workforce needs.
The regional workforce board sets policy and directs expenditures of more than $8 million in funds that underwrite services provided through the Workforce Connection offices.
Workforce Connection is the local, business-led organization that plans and coordinates quality employment and training services for businesses and individual career seekers in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties.
Each year, approximately 1,500 businesses and more than 36,000 career seekers receive services through the Workforce Connection. Services include professional and technical recruitment, training, targeted talent marketplaces (job fairs) and financial incentives.
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Employment Update
Positive movement in critical indicators continues in all three counties Workforce Connection's regional unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in September, down 0.3 percent over the month and down 2.4 percent from one year ago. Out of an expanded labor force of 210,164 there were 20,522 jobless or 5,049 fewer unemployed than this time last year.
The September 2012 unemployment rates, released Oct. 19 by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, were 9.8 percent in Marion County, down 0.3 percent over the month; 9.9 percent in Citrus County, down 0.4 percent; and 9.4 percent in Levy County, down 0.4 percent. Florida's not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in September and the nation rate was 7.6 percent, down 0.6 percent.
See Regional Report
See Statewide Report
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Fall Business Offerings
Don't miss one of these opportunities to help grow your business:
Fall Career Fair Following the success of the Spring Fling Career Fair in April, the College of Central Florida and Workforce Connection will hold a Fall Career Fair on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CF's Learning and Conference Center in Lecanto. This is a great opportunity to meet with or recruit job seekers as well as college and votech students who are wrapping up their postsecondary programs. To learn how you can take part in this efficient, effective recruiting opportunity -- at no charge -- contact the Workforce Connection Inverness office at 352-637-2223 or 800-746-9950.
The Value of Relationships Results Small Business Owners Can Bank On Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 5-8 p.m. at CF's Citrus Campus in Lecanto. General admission is $20 and $15 for members of the Citrus County Chamber, EDC, SBDC, and SCORE. Veterans may attend at no charge with a Vets Fast Launch coupon. The workshop is presented by the Citrus County Business Resource Alliance and sponsored by Workforce Connection. For more information or to register, call 352-795-2000 or visit the Citrus EDC.
Small Business Development Workshop Series This series of seminars promotes small business development and growth in Levy County. Available sessions with start dates:
Simple Steps to Grow Your Business (Oct. 22), Starting or Expanding Your Business Online (Oct. 29), Business Fundability (Nov. 5) and Controlling Your Cash Flow Before It Controls You (Nov. 12).
The program is presented by the College of Central Florida in partnership with Workforce Connection, Levy County Enterprise Zone, Levy County Visitors Bureau, Nature Coast Business Development Council and SBDC. Classes take place at the CF Levy Center in Chiefland. For information, visit the CF Institute or call 352-493-9533.
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Energy Summit Set
Learn about Florida's efforts to diversity energy production and the implications for our region at the College of Central Florida's Energy Summit on Friday, Nov. 16 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at CF's Klein Conference Center in Ocala.
Featured speakers will be Florida Rep. Seth McKeel of Lakeland, member of the state House Energy and Utilities Committee, and a representative from the Ocala Power Plant.
During the luncheon, business owners will also have the opportunity to interact with the region's brightest secondary students who show promise in energy, engineering and STEM-related studies.
The program is sponsored by Workforce Connection, Progress Energy and the Ocala Power Plant.
There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required as seating is limited. For more information, email Diana Scroggie at CF.
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NetWorker Bulletin
If you missed the latest issues of the NetWorker
bulletin, or if you'd like to pass the information along to those interested in hot jobs and top talent, you can find every issue on our website.
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