Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economy
October 2015
In this issue you will find:

Regards,
Van Ton-Quinlivan, Vice Chancellor
CCCCO Division of Workforce and Economic Development

VAN TON-QUINLIVAN AND ELOY OAKLEY NAMED TO TOM STEYER'S FAIR SHAKE COMMISSION

CCCCO Vice Chancellor Van Ton-Quinlivan and Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College Eloy Oakley now serve on the Fair Shake Commission on Income Inequality and Middle Class Opportunity formed by Tom Steyer, PolicyLink and the Center for American Progress to identify policies to close the social inequity gap in California. 
 
"For all of our state's wealth and opportunity, there's still a huge gap between the few and the many," said Tom Steyer, who will serve as Chairman of the Commission. The goals of the Fair Shake Commission are to examine opportunities and challenges the State faces in its quest to address growing inequality, identify achievable policies to effect both short-term and long-term change, and recommend ways to generate momentum to address these issues. 
 
In addition to Steyer, Ton-Quinlivan and Oakley, the 13 commissioners include:
  • Laphonza Butler, SEIU ULTCW (United Long Term Care Workers' Union)
  • Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink Founder and CEO
  • Hon. George Miller, U.S. Congress (ret.)
  • Hon. Fabian Núñez, California Assembly (ret.)
  • Art Pulaski, California Labor Federation
  • Connie Rice, Advancement Project
  • Hon. Darrell Steinberg, State Senate (ret.)
  • Neera Tanden, Center for American Progress and CAP Action Fund
  • Manuel Pastor, Ph.D., University of Southern California/Program for Environmental and Regional Equity
  • Laura Tyson, Haas School of Business
DEMYSTIFYING LABOR MARKET INFORMATION 

The number of data sources for labor market information (LMI) has grown considerably. Two new guides help clarify which tools are best suited to answer the questions most often asked by community colleges, as well as key considerations when using labor market research. Making Use of Labor Market Information provides a brief overview of sources for developing new programs, designing curriculum, writing grant applications, conducting program review, and engaging in regional planning. Understanding Labor Market Information Resources  provides more detailed information on 21 different LMI sources, including strengths, limitations, screenshots, and web links.  All community colleges have access to a Technical Assistance Provider in Labor Market Research. Find yours here or visit Centers of Excellence.
MAKING CALIFORNIA SHINE

California Community Colleges Wins Federal Global Trade Award
Small businesses wanting to start or increase exporting will receive a boost, thanks to a $747,781 State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  The grant was awarded to the California Centers for International Trade and Development (CITD), who will use the funds to serve 300 business in California with targeted outcomes of $45M in economic impacts. The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office serves as the lead fiscal agency in partnership with the Governor's Office.
 
A single mother of two, Tiffany Vang, 41, emigrated from Vietnam six years ago. She enrolled in Riverside City College with the hope of providing a better life for her children. Despite challenging personal circumstances, Vang persevered in her classes and credits the support of her instructors for helping her continue. As a result, she won the gold medal in Graphics Communications at the SkillsUSA Championship. This championship is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.  Read more here. 
eSHOWCASE: SECTOR STRATEGIES IN ACTION

* Practices with Promise: Sector Strategies

Practices with PromiseDeputy Sector Navigators (DSNs) around the state are working with faculty, colleges, and K12 partners to drive strategies for advancing student success and workforce outcomes. Read about them in the Practices with Promise eShowcase, a Doing What MATTERS for Jobs and the Economy tool. Consider submitting your Practices with Promise for others to learn.
  
* "Business Information Worker" Certificate Spreads to 50 Campuses

Thanks to the leadership of the Information & Communications Technology/Digital Media (ICT/DM) Sector Navigator Steve Wright and his Deputy Sector Navigators, Manpower advised the creation of a Business Information Worker (BIW) certificate that resulted in strong job placement for graduates. Fifty percent of California's 113 community colleges have now adopted the BIW certificate through their faculty. Soon to come is the IT Technician Pathway. Look to the IT Technician Pathway to help students launch their IT careers by starting with a computer retail or customer service job and building skills and certifications over time. Termed "branded pathways", these certificates are designed to get all or most students into widely available jobs in fewer than 6-10 months.
  
* It's Raining Jobs Counselor Summit

More than 400 high school and college counselors from across the Central Valley gathered at this counselor summit to learn from their Deputy Sector Navigators what in-demand, good-paying careers exist in their region and the career technical education options for getting students into these jobs. Highlighted industries included health; retail, hospitality and tourism; agriculture and water tech; ICT/digital media energy; small business; global trade and logistics; and advanced manufacturing.
NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion Mini-Grants Available: The Small Business Sector is seeking applications for Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion mini-grant projects. Under this RFA, a total of ten Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion Mini-grants will be funded, each for no more than $7,500 (no matching funds are required). Applications are due by 5 p.m. on October 5, 2015. Click here to download a copy of the application. Contact Charles Eason, Small Business Sector Navigator, at charles.eason@solano.edu with questions.
 
Four Innovation in Apprenticeship Grants Released:  Apply now for $15M in apprenticeship funds newly released by the CCCCO Division of Workforce & Economic Development. These four grant opportunities make up the California Apprenticeship Initiative. Contact CCCCO Specialist John Dunn at jdunn@cccco.edu with questions.
 
Interested in National Science Foundation (NSF)? If your college has not received NSF grant funding in the past 10 years, has a need to develop or strengthen STEM technician education programs, could benefit from improved leadership skills among STEM faculty, and would like assistance in preparing a competitive grant proposal for NSF's ATE program, the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Mentor-Connect is for you! A grant proposal development workshop, with travel support, will take place on January 27-29, 2016, in New Orleans. Email Mentor-Connect for more information or contact AACC's Ellen Hause.
About the Task Force
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LAUNCHBOARD NEWS
 
New File Upload Tool: 
The file upload interface on LaunchBoard has been updated to make it easier for grantees to enter locally collected data into the Common Metrics tab. Now you can upload a CSV (rather than tab delimited) file. The site also includes links to resource documents that provide step-by-step instructions and explain college reporting requirements.   

New Tracking Tool for K-14 Outcomes:  The California Career Pathway Trust (CCPT) tab of LaunchBoard is a voluntary tool intended to help grantees aggregate required reporting data across sites and to support local data conversations. Following clarifications from the California Department of Education about grant expectations, the LaunchBoard tab is being reworked to align with reporting requirements.  


California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
Workforce & Economic Development Division

vtquinlivan@cccco.edu | http://doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu