This unique project will serve 665 individuals over a two-year period. Through business and community partners, Workforce Connection plans to provide training, support services and placement assistance to the unemployed, low-income residents, high school dropouts and offenders. A variety of training tracks in the green jobs areas will be provided over the next two years. Training areas include energy-efficient building construction and retrofitting, solar installation, bio-fuel manufacturing and distribution, energy efficient assessment, green manufacturing, recycling and sustainable agriculture.
This project not only serves 665 individuals, it is designed to improve the economic and quality of life of West Ocala. This grant will also support current efforts by the City of Ocala including the implementation of the Enterprise Zone.
Workforce Connection, serving Citrus, Levy and Marion Counties, is the first Workforce Board in Florida to access special stimulus funds for subsidized employment. The pilot program with the Florida Department of Children and Families Call Center that funded 76 new temporary jobs in our region is being expanded to include private employers in addition to not-for-profit and public sector employers.
Florida Back to Work is a viable way to create new jobs as we face tremendous unemployment in our region. Funding comes from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA) Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF). Florida can provide up to $200 million in additional one-time, non-recurring federal funds for jobs for Florida’s neediest citizens. Positions can be funded through September 30, 2010.
Private, public and not-for-profit employers can participate in the unique grant funding to subsidize up to 100 percent of the wages and up to 80 percent of the non-wage costs through September 30, 2010 for eligible low income applicants. Eighty percent of some benefits may be able to be reimbursed. Workforce will reimburse employers for monthly wages and applicable benefits paid during the previous month.
Job candidates eligible for the employment program will include parents with a child younger than 18 whose family income is less than 200% of federal poverty level in the last 30 days. Applicants must be enrolled on www.EmployFlorida.com to apply for jobs . Workforce will screen applicants for eligibility and skills to meet employer needs.
Download the FACT SHEET, and call Workforce if you need more information at 352-873-7939, ext. 1606.
Congratulations are in order for Hugh Dailey, President/CEO of Community Bank & Trust of Florida and EDC Vice Chair of Finance. Dailey was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Jacksonville Branch for a two-year term which began on December 10, 2009.
For more details on this prestigious honor, click here.
The United States Senate Youth Program offers an annual opportunity for students to have an in-depth view of the federal government. Washington Week, as the program is called, is an intensive educational program for youth to understand the federal government and who directs it. Only two student leaders from each state are selected each year (only 104 from across the nation).
Following an intensive all day interview and evaluation process, MTI student Regerio Burton was selected as one of two students representing Florida. The selected delegates will travel to Washington D.C. in March where they will hear major policy addresses by Senators, Cabinet Members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies. The student delegates will also meet with a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
All transportation, hotel and meal expenses are provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate is awarded a $5,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies and are encouraged to pursue coursework in history and political science.
At Marion Technical Institute, Burton is a junior enrolled in the Law and Government program and serves as president of the MTI Student Council. Burton is a native-born Ocalean and involved in many activities, including participating in Vanguard’s Navy ROTC. Burton was nominated by Mrs. Lynch, his MTI Law and Government teacher, and MTI principal, Mark Vianello. Mrs. Lynch stated, “Rejerio is an outstanding young man who will represent the state of Florida with the highest integrity. I am very proud of him and excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity.” The US Senate Youth Program is highly competitive and is merit-based. The students chosen are consistently of the highest quality in the nation. Mark Vianello, MTI principal, is very enthusiastic about Burton’s accomplishments and the school’s new law program. “This is a tremendous achievement for Rejerio and for our program, school, and community. Regerio represents our community well and is a shining example of Marion County’s youth.”
This grant was ranked number one in the State by Workforce Florida and will train approximately 305 people in the four areas of healthcare worker recruitment and transition, critical care nursing recruitment and training, medical coder hospital certifications, and a long-term care program for new Certified Nursing Assistants.
Congratulations are in order for the Bianculli’s and Ocala Recycling for being the first recycler in the world to become a RIOS certified facility.
RIOS, the Recycling Industry Operating Standard is an integrated standard encompassing Quality, Environmental, and Health & Safety controls into one management system.
For more details on this prestigious designation, click on RIOS.
The Ocala/Marion County Economic Action Team met yesterday to update progress and collaborative efforts toward economic recovery. Highlights from the meeting included:
Workforce Connection will host a Job and Community Resource Fair to help displaced workers on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 10:a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Ewers Century Center located on CFCC’s campus.
Companies seeking future employees in a wide range from financial services professionals to skilled workers in manufacturing and construction will be participating in this event.
Please share this information with anyone who may be interested in these services.
For more details, click on JOB FAIR.
