STIMULUS UPDATE WORKFORCE CONNECTION - REGION 10! www.clmworkforce.com

Seismic Shifts

Preparing for Changing Workforce, Economy

Workforce Connection (Workforce) is responding to seismic shifts occurring due to economic conditions and the region’s workforce needs. In order to better equip staff with the skills needed to do business differently, Workforce engaged Greg Newton, a national workforce consultant and trainer. Newton laid out clear strategies for how to address the current situation. He explained how the nation is struggling in a recession that is not specific to one industry and covers almost all geographic areas. It will take innovation, a nimble organization and a value-added approach that can address these six seismic shifts.

Seismic Shift #1 - Good Jobs for AllThe 1990s was a time of “all jobs are good,” but in 2010 the mantra is “good jobs for all.” This means helping workers train for jobs with middle-class, family-supporting wages. Current information suggests individuals receiving skills training earn about $2,000 more than those that just receive employability skills or general training. However, training alone is not enough, underscored Newton. Workforce staff has to break the training and job silos. It means helping customers know their skills, develop their skills and get the best possible jobs with those skills through streamlined service delivery.

Seismic Shift #2 – Unemployment is a Time to Skill-upThree years ago, individuals usually had a short unemployment window. The focus was on quickly getting re-hired. Employers had lots of available openings for qualified candidates. Today, the job search window is long. Newton suggests that this time should be used to help job candidates become the best they can be. Career counseling and coaching is key.

Job candidates can improve their literacy and computer skills, learn new skills and get hands-on work experience. President Obama says the goal is to: “change unemployment from “wait and see” to a chance for individuals to “train and seek” the next opportunity. This means doing more on-the-job training with employers willing to train and retain new hires. It involves finding more ways for individuals to “earn while they learn,” through volunteer work, temporary work or paid work experience. It means providing remediation skills concurrent with skills training.

Seismic Shift #3 – Increase Number of Customers in Training ServicesSince July 2009, Workforce has funded approximately 1,332 people for training scholarships, on-the-job training and customized training at work. However, with limited funds available, Newton suggested that Workforce staff need to not only depend on Workforce resources, but tap into all available resources from Pell Grants, Veteran’s Scholarships, and other sources of grants and loans.

Seismic Shift #4 – Form Educational Partnerships for Upward Career PathwaysFor years educators and Workforce staff focused on how to teach job candidates about occupational career ladders. Newton suggested that in this economy, with the limited number of jobs, that may not be the best approach. He explained that unless you have a growth sector with required licensures, such as healthcare, the career ladder approach may not give job candidates enough options. Career Pathways is a system where adults move easily between the labor market and further education and training over a lifetime to advance their careers. Foundational skills that are easily transferrable to multiple jobs should be encouraged and developed.

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STIMULUS UPDATE ! MARCH 2010

Workforce Connection - Region 10

American Recovery and Reinvestment

(Continued on back page)

Workforce Online

Since July 1, 2009, Workforce Connection has enrolled 2,339 individuals in intensive/training services. Of those, 1,678 have completed, of which 282 (16.8 percent) have been placed in employment.

Performance SnapshotRegion 10 – Citrus, Levy and Marion Counties

Placement

February 2010 - Total 1,342

784

60

358

140

Training Participants

Classroom Training

On-the-Job Training

Customized Training

Employed Worker

STIMULUS UPDATE WORKFORCE CONNECTION - REGION 10! www.clmworkforce.com

Projects at a Glance

Campaign to Spotlight Financial Services TalentWorkforce is partnering with the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation to promote the area’s strong financial and business services talent to out of area companies. The campaign to attract new or expanding businesses into the area focuses on the availability of turn-key talent and turn-key facilities.

Workforce created a financial services portfolio that details the wealth of seasoned talent by occupation group, the skills and training of the candidates and workforce services available to businesses interested in recruiting from this workforce pool. The portfolio has been distributed to area business and financial services companies by Workforce. The EDC has executed a strategic campaign outside our region. This approach will be used as a model for other industry sectors in the entire region. To find out more about the portfolio or services, contact the Workforce Business Development Team at 352-873-7939, ext. 1606.

Electronic Health Records PilotWorkforce has been working with the Marion County Medical Society and Healthy Ocala to assist in training funding to launch Healthy Ocala’s Electronic Health Records and Community Health Information Exchange. The project is designed to implement a cutting-edge community health information exchange which also includes electronic health systems for physicians and personal health records for patients.

Four physician offices are expected to participate in the comprehensive pilot which begins in March. In addition, scholarships are available for physician office staff for a 12- hour Electronic Health Records Class provided by Taylor College. In April, Workforce will co-sponsor an Intelligent Medical Records workshop in Citrus County in partnership with area healthcare and IT providers. To find out about either of these, call 352-873-7939, ext. 1606.

Second National Emergency Grant AwardedThe U.S. Department of Labor awarded $1.66 million on January 15, 2010 for a National Emergency Grant (NEG) to aid former employees of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corporation and associated financial companies. NEG awards by the Secretary of Labor temporarily expand service capacity in response to significant dislocation events.

The grant, administrated by Workforce, provides support services, relocation assistance and employment-related assistance and training scholarships. A hotline phone number, 352-291-9551, is provided, along with an email TaylorBean@clmworkforce.com for candidates.

Former Taylor, Bean & Whitaker employees received information to start their path back into the workforce on Aug. 7, 2009 at CFCC.

Workforce Partners with MonsterMonster, the premier global online employment solution, will partner with Workforce to offer four free workshops in 2010 for area job seekers in Citrus, Levy and Marion Counties. Topics will include resume tips and tricks, interviewing, networking, creating a digital footprint and job hunting strategies. The workshops are high energy events to empower job candidates, with an objective to get displaced workers back to work faster.

Each of the four workshops will be targeted towards certain occupational sectors and will be followed two weeks later with a talent showcase or industry-specific job fair. For more details, go to www.clmworkforce.com and look under the calendar of events.

Workforce Florida Healthcare Grant AwardApproximately 80 individuals attended “Exploring Your Future in Healthcare” on Feb. 22, 2010 at CFCC to explore options in healthcare related fields with information by educators, healthcare providers and financial aid specialists.

This event was part of a $356,570 Workforce Florida Healthcare Grant awarded in Nov. 2009 to train approximately 305 people in four areas including healthcare worker recruitment and transition, critical care nursing recruitment and training, medical coder hospital certifications and long-term care program for new Certified Nursing Assistants. Watch a video at www.youtube.com/WorkforceCLM to learn more about the grant. Download a flyer at www.clmworkforce.com or call 1-800-434-JOBS to find out more information.

STIMULUS UPDATE ! MARCH 2010

STIMULUS UPDATE WORKFORCE CONNECTION - REGION 10! www.clmworkforce.com

Projects at a Glance

Pathways Out of Poverty GrantWorkforce was awarded $2.98 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor in January 2010 to train 665 people predominantly from West Ocala in seven green job fields. The program will be based at CFCC’s Hampton Center. Orientations begin the last week in March.

Ocala was one of only 38 communities throughout the country awarded money as part of the federal government's Pathways Out of Poverty Grant. To qualify for the grant, the community had to have a population in which at least 15 percent were at the national poverty level. Find out more information by calling 352-840-5700, extension 5550 or WestOcalaGreenJobs@clmworkforce.com. A fact sheet can be downloaded at www.clmworkforce.com.Residents attend a town hall meeting at E.D. Croskey Recreation Center on January 28, 2010. The Pathways Out of Poverty Grant was introduced at event.

Heart of Florida Job FairWorkforce Connection hosted the 5th Annual Heart of Florida Job Fair, Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Paddock Mall, in Ocala, with 424 job candidates. Approximately 20 companies and area educators attended the event. In addition to job opportunities, attendees learned more about training and available scholarships. Workforce staff answered job candidates’ questions on resumes, job training, employment and the new grants focused on healthcare and green jobs. The event was co-sponsored by Rasmussen College.

Workforce’s Gail Buzard signs up job candidates on Employ Florida Marketplace, www.employflorida.com, at job fair.

Citrus County Florida Back to WorkCitrus County had a briefing in late December 2009 for the Florida Back to Work Program held at the Citrus County Chamber. The participants only had one week to apply for the subsidized work program for their businesses. There were 18 organizations that applied from Citrus County and 47 jobs created. Christopher L. Smith, left, Christopher Hainbaugh, center, and Sherry Hainbaugh, all of Inverness, submitted proposals for the Florida Back to Work Program.

United Way of Marion County, VolunteersThe United Way of Marion County has collaborated with their volunteers to teach a workshop on Money Matters at Workforce on the topics related to personal budgeting and finance. Many of the volunteers are displaced workers helping other unemployed workers as they network, volunteer and relocate back into the workforce. Find out more

information at www.uwmc.org.

Loretta Jackson, of Ocala, is a volunteer with United Way of Marion County for the Money Matters workshops.

Legal ServicesCommunity Legal Services of Mid-Florida is now available to help job candidates with legal issues they encounter during their unemployment path. A referral is first made at Workforce to start the referral process. They must be first signed into Employ Florida, www.employflorida.com, as an active job candidate.

Expanding Employers Bring Hope John Howard, President and CEO of Pathlab Services, recently interviewed 55 prospective employees for his company which will be opening in the Ocala area. Workforce partners with the three area economic development organizations in helping new and expanding businesses identify qualified talent. This employer recruitment event is one successful example.

John Howard, right, of PathLabs, and Nicole Maragh, of MRMC, were on the professional panel at the Exploring Your Healthcare Career briefing at CFCC in February.

STIMULUS UPDATE ! MARCH 2010

3300 SW 34th Avenue, Suite 148

Ocala, Florida 34474

1 800-434-JOBS (5627)

contactus@clmworkforce.com

Workforce Connection is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers listed above may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. If you need accommodations, please call 352-840-5700, ext. 7878 or e-mail accommodations@clmworkforce.com. Please make request at least three business days in advance.

INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3! FALL 2009

STIMULUS UPDATE ! MARCH 2010

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Preparing for Changing Workforce, Economy - continued

Seismic Shift #5 – Redesign Business and Employer ServicesWorkforce’s business development team is looking at ways to better serve dual customers – the job candidates and the employers. The Targeted Sector Committees, created by Workforce several years ago, provide a vehicle to discuss linking talent pipelines with emerging career pathways. Talent portfolios are being used as a way to attract new employers to the region. Job fairs are being converted to strategic “talent showcases” where qualified candidates meet with targeted employers in defined occupational areas.

Seismic Shift #6 – Preparing for New Performance MeasuresNewton predicts that performance measures will change, probably for the better. The focus will be more on wage outcomes, credential acquisition, bundled measures that tell a complete story, and value-added service delivery. New expectations cannot be achieved with the same performance standards.

Workforce Connection received the Supernova Award, a special achievement award for the community, given out only three times since 2004, from the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce. Find out more about the award at www.ocalacc.com.

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