I am in Tampa Bay Florida with the National Workforce Association and David Bradley. I am looking forward to visiting with old friends in the workforce system and catch up on some best practices. Some of my former board members from Indiana are going to be here tonight, so I look forward to visiting with them.
I will blog on what is happening at this conference and post some of my thoughts.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The shifting of the economic midwest
One of the realities I have discovered since I moved to rural Illinois over two years ago is the attitude that the status-quo must be maintained at all costs because that is what "we know."
I have experienced much in this time in the rural Midwest. I appreciate the slow pace, the informal dress, the farming business, and the spots here and there of manufacturers.
The fact is, globalization is happening here and the slow decline of the job base is now to the point where there are too few jobs and too many unskilled workers wanting jobs.
While we adapt to the slow changes on a daily basis, we fail to comprehend the systems changes augmented by those incremental changes. As Thomas Homer-Dixon puts it, "This very capacity is "a real handicap when it comes to dealing with slow-creep problems. We just don't see the change, and the thing about slow-creep problems is that they be slow-creep for awhile, but then all of a sudden there is a non-linear shift and we find ourselves in a crisis" (Shambhala Sun, September 2008). That describes the housing crisis, the financial crisis, the environmental crisis, and the disappearance of manufacturing in the Midwest.
Part of our problem is that we continue to try and solve the problems with today's thinking. Today's thinking put us in this situation. Creative and innovative thinking will bring us out of the situation.
In southeastern Illinois, we have many of the problems plaguing the Midwest with a couple of exceptions. We have Effingham that is experimenting with entrepreneurship training in the High School for the entire county. The hope is that this effort will show success and be able to be scaled up to other counties in the region. Effingham also tends to have a more progressive outlook for the future.
However, for every Effingham, I have many smaller towns that are on the verge of disappearing. This region is still bleeding its young and smart people out due to a lack of opportunity and global connectability. Broadband service is limited and expensive compared with metro areas.
It is time for a new model of economic growth that is based on sustainability and emulates the natural cycles in life.
The future can be very bright for the Midwest. Moreover the opportunities to live in small towns has its draw. However, the infrastructure will need to be on par with the larger cities, or the rural life will continue to disappear.
I have experienced much in this time in the rural Midwest. I appreciate the slow pace, the informal dress, the farming business, and the spots here and there of manufacturers.
The fact is, globalization is happening here and the slow decline of the job base is now to the point where there are too few jobs and too many unskilled workers wanting jobs.
While we adapt to the slow changes on a daily basis, we fail to comprehend the systems changes augmented by those incremental changes. As Thomas Homer-Dixon puts it, "This very capacity is "a real handicap when it comes to dealing with slow-creep problems. We just don't see the change, and the thing about slow-creep problems is that they be slow-creep for awhile, but then all of a sudden there is a non-linear shift and we find ourselves in a crisis" (Shambhala Sun, September 2008). That describes the housing crisis, the financial crisis, the environmental crisis, and the disappearance of manufacturing in the Midwest.
Part of our problem is that we continue to try and solve the problems with today's thinking. Today's thinking put us in this situation. Creative and innovative thinking will bring us out of the situation.
In southeastern Illinois, we have many of the problems plaguing the Midwest with a couple of exceptions. We have Effingham that is experimenting with entrepreneurship training in the High School for the entire county. The hope is that this effort will show success and be able to be scaled up to other counties in the region. Effingham also tends to have a more progressive outlook for the future.
However, for every Effingham, I have many smaller towns that are on the verge of disappearing. This region is still bleeding its young and smart people out due to a lack of opportunity and global connectability. Broadband service is limited and expensive compared with metro areas.
It is time for a new model of economic growth that is based on sustainability and emulates the natural cycles in life.
The future can be very bright for the Midwest. Moreover the opportunities to live in small towns has its draw. However, the infrastructure will need to be on par with the larger cities, or the rural life will continue to disappear.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama's Potential
Last night was historic by every measure. And the potential for the workforce system finally coming out of a long deadlock is within sight. The big question is whether there is a growing understanding that as people receive additional weeks of unemployment help, that it should be tied to skill enhancements funded with additional money for the workforce system.
In Southeastern Illinois, we are reeling from the slowdown in the auto industry. Many of our remaining local manufacturers are tied to the auto industry supply chain. Currently, we have over 150 workers on lay off and it is growing by the day with announcements of plant closings and companies filing chapter 11.
At the same time with the rescission we sent back to the Department of Labor earlier this year, the system is struggling to meet the increasing demand. Our Crossroads Workforce Centers are very busy and the state partners, the Illinois Department of Employment Services needs to have additional help to receive all the calls they are getting. Many people are irate because they have not been in this position before and are unsure of the process. The ES staff are trying their best to answer the deluge of calls and the frustration that tends to come out from people just laid off. They should get "combat pay" for having to deal with this every day.
So, the opportunity is to move forward with change and improvement. Our system had the Baldrige Quality Principles built into the law. We need to adjust and make the system better. We need to more closely work with economic development and education. But we also need the investment in the people we serve by the federal government and some kind of incentive to bring business dollars to the table too. This system servers all employers. And those that are complaining about the quality of the job applicants need to stop complaining and investing in a solution. The workforce investment system can be an important part of the solution.
In Southeastern Illinois, we are reeling from the slowdown in the auto industry. Many of our remaining local manufacturers are tied to the auto industry supply chain. Currently, we have over 150 workers on lay off and it is growing by the day with announcements of plant closings and companies filing chapter 11.
At the same time with the rescission we sent back to the Department of Labor earlier this year, the system is struggling to meet the increasing demand. Our Crossroads Workforce Centers are very busy and the state partners, the Illinois Department of Employment Services needs to have additional help to receive all the calls they are getting. Many people are irate because they have not been in this position before and are unsure of the process. The ES staff are trying their best to answer the deluge of calls and the frustration that tends to come out from people just laid off. They should get "combat pay" for having to deal with this every day.
So, the opportunity is to move forward with change and improvement. Our system had the Baldrige Quality Principles built into the law. We need to adjust and make the system better. We need to more closely work with economic development and education. But we also need the investment in the people we serve by the federal government and some kind of incentive to bring business dollars to the table too. This system servers all employers. And those that are complaining about the quality of the job applicants need to stop complaining and investing in a solution. The workforce investment system can be an important part of the solution.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ECIDC Meeting
Today we are at the Allerton Manor for a two day retreat with Ed Morrison. We have discussed our grandfathers economy and our grandchildrens economy. We are now going to look at networks and connections. The morning went well and many partners are here. Building trust is the key to set the ground rules. I will add more later.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Our Failing Economy
With less than a month before the elections, we have failed to hear of any specific plans either candidate will carry out for the improvement of the American workforce, the core foundation of our economy. With the ten year anniversary of the Workforce Investment Act, we have yet to have a congress capable of focusing on, what most business people understand, the labor pool of this country.
From a workforce perspective, we have watched as year after year there has been a decline in the competency to perform work and increase in the lack of workplace ethics in our emerging workforce (youth). We literally have a generation of low skilled workers when the trend in industry has been for higher skilled workers. Shortages exist throughout America in some key jobs, while our education institutions continue to crank out millions of degrees in areas where there is no significant demand.
When the workforce system was set up, it was hoped that there would be cooperation and collaboration with higher education to really address these misalignments and to create change that would funnel young people into education and training for high demand jobs. In some places throughout the country, this has happened. But most of the time bureaucratic walls prevent true collaboration, and, frankly, how to be collaborative and a good partner suffer because the educational paradigm is still based on competition and rank. This runs counter to the culture we are attempting to create in the sustainable business world.
The excesses and lopsided Wall Street power has corrupted many folks into thinking there is no end. A structures in this world are impermanent. Nothing lasts forever. Life continues in a cycle. All these statements should lead one to understand that there are limits to the system. And now, America and the world have hit the limit to the financial system.
Barack Obama seems to be headed for the White House, and that should be good for America. However, there is no specific plan for workforce in his platform. It just has generalities, which is not enough information for those of us in this system to gain insight into what he plans to do.
It is clear that the country needs a workforce plan, and energy plan, and a new financial structure as we move into 2009. It is time the future President have a "fireside chat" with the American people so that we can see that he understands the gravity of the system failure, the lives that are being displaced, and the opportunity to retrain workers for the jobs still going unfilled in America. Giving more weeks of unemployment may be of some help, but most of these workers really need additional training at the truck driving school or the community college/university.
It is time for a plan, it is time for reinvestment in our country. It is time to slow the exit of dollars abroad for war and rebuilding, and put those dollars to good use back home.
From a workforce perspective, we have watched as year after year there has been a decline in the competency to perform work and increase in the lack of workplace ethics in our emerging workforce (youth). We literally have a generation of low skilled workers when the trend in industry has been for higher skilled workers. Shortages exist throughout America in some key jobs, while our education institutions continue to crank out millions of degrees in areas where there is no significant demand.
When the workforce system was set up, it was hoped that there would be cooperation and collaboration with higher education to really address these misalignments and to create change that would funnel young people into education and training for high demand jobs. In some places throughout the country, this has happened. But most of the time bureaucratic walls prevent true collaboration, and, frankly, how to be collaborative and a good partner suffer because the educational paradigm is still based on competition and rank. This runs counter to the culture we are attempting to create in the sustainable business world.
The excesses and lopsided Wall Street power has corrupted many folks into thinking there is no end. A structures in this world are impermanent. Nothing lasts forever. Life continues in a cycle. All these statements should lead one to understand that there are limits to the system. And now, America and the world have hit the limit to the financial system.
Barack Obama seems to be headed for the White House, and that should be good for America. However, there is no specific plan for workforce in his platform. It just has generalities, which is not enough information for those of us in this system to gain insight into what he plans to do.
It is clear that the country needs a workforce plan, and energy plan, and a new financial structure as we move into 2009. It is time the future President have a "fireside chat" with the American people so that we can see that he understands the gravity of the system failure, the lives that are being displaced, and the opportunity to retrain workers for the jobs still going unfilled in America. Giving more weeks of unemployment may be of some help, but most of these workers really need additional training at the truck driving school or the community college/university.
It is time for a plan, it is time for reinvestment in our country. It is time to slow the exit of dollars abroad for war and rebuilding, and put those dollars to good use back home.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Effingham Chamber Article
As the EIU Critical Skills Shortage Study begins to wrap up and the report compiled for the region, it is becoming more apparent by the day that the business community, through the Chambers and the state associations are going to have to not only engage in the workforce discussion, but become investors in the solutions.
When the study that my staff and EIU are collaborating on is finished, the State of Illinois will want to give this region a grant to address the solutions portion of the critical skills shortages. The main beneficiaries are the manufacturing, healthcare and transportation, distribution and logistics industries. But unlike in the past, the solutions will have to be co-investments in creating a stable and sustainable pipeline of skilled labor that will be supported by the businesses that benefit from the investment. The Crossroads Workforce Investment Board (CWIB), a majority of which are business owners or managers, understand the strategic implications of this decision. Where will we invest? As a funder of workforce training programs, mostly delivered by our community colleges of Lake Land, IECC, and Kaskaskia, as well as Eastern Illinois University, we need to get the most return on our use of these federal funds. How will what we fund improve the economic climate of this region? Can this region attract the highest talent in the country to grow our economy and expand our local businesses?
These are just some of the questions the CWIB board members will be asking before we invest grant dollars from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The grant money we receive today goes to retrain workers so that the skills they have are marketable in today’s environment.
But the challenges are great. The youth of today have little awareness and understanding of most career choices they have. At career days, where we provide school aged youngsters the information of careers in demand for this region and encourage them to stay in school. Apprenticeship programs in the trades, specific skill training and college are just a few of the many options they have. I would encourage you to go to www.2mminutes.com and view the trailer. We are in a globally competitive world and our American children do not seem to understand the gravity of their decisions for their future, and the competition that is building in other countries out there. The US ranks 25th in math when compared with the top 30 countries in the world. The jobs of tomorrow will demand better results. I will post this on my blog and you will be free to comment, I would like to hear what you think. Jim McShane – CWIB Executive Director www.webpro.blogspot.com/
When the study that my staff and EIU are collaborating on is finished, the State of Illinois will want to give this region a grant to address the solutions portion of the critical skills shortages. The main beneficiaries are the manufacturing, healthcare and transportation, distribution and logistics industries. But unlike in the past, the solutions will have to be co-investments in creating a stable and sustainable pipeline of skilled labor that will be supported by the businesses that benefit from the investment. The Crossroads Workforce Investment Board (CWIB), a majority of which are business owners or managers, understand the strategic implications of this decision. Where will we invest? As a funder of workforce training programs, mostly delivered by our community colleges of Lake Land, IECC, and Kaskaskia, as well as Eastern Illinois University, we need to get the most return on our use of these federal funds. How will what we fund improve the economic climate of this region? Can this region attract the highest talent in the country to grow our economy and expand our local businesses?
These are just some of the questions the CWIB board members will be asking before we invest grant dollars from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The grant money we receive today goes to retrain workers so that the skills they have are marketable in today’s environment.
But the challenges are great. The youth of today have little awareness and understanding of most career choices they have. At career days, where we provide school aged youngsters the information of careers in demand for this region and encourage them to stay in school. Apprenticeship programs in the trades, specific skill training and college are just a few of the many options they have. I would encourage you to go to www.2mminutes.com and view the trailer. We are in a globally competitive world and our American children do not seem to understand the gravity of their decisions for their future, and the competition that is building in other countries out there. The US ranks 25th in math when compared with the top 30 countries in the world. The jobs of tomorrow will demand better results. I will post this on my blog and you will be free to comment, I would like to hear what you think. Jim McShane – CWIB Executive Director www.webpro.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
2nd Annual Workforce Summit
Southeastern and South Central Illinois is welcoming back Ed Morrison from I-Open and Purdue University to assist the region in developing a plan and vision for the economic revitilaization of the region. Having lost 10,000 high paying jobs since 2000, the region is stagnet and not creating high wage jobs. This has supporessed the local economy and many of our counties have flat populations or declining population. Only Effingham has some growth and Coles a minimal growth. With the winds of global competition blowing hard these days, this region needs to begin the process of re-thinking its economy and start growing new business. That is why the Business Solutions program that Eastern Illinois University and the Crossroads Workforce Investment Board are working together with community funders to get the pipeline in place to produce new business. We need the communities help in making this a reality. This is not a donation as much as it is and investment in the future economic vitality and success. We are seeing that we cannot rely on Washington or Springfiled to lend us a hand. It will have to be an reinvestment by our successful businesses in this effort to ensure their current and future success. The lay of the land has changed and we must adapt to survive and grow.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
CWIB announces Provider
The Crossroads Workforce Investment Board announced on April 15th that CEFS was the successful bidder to be the provider of services from July 1, 2008 to June 30th 2010. There is an option to renew an addtional year if performance is met. We congradulate them on a successful response to the RFP. We also thank Lake Land College and JobWorks for the excellent work that went into their responses to the RFP. We are facing tough times as a system and as a country with the resession in place. Our funding will be cut 16% this coming year to serve youth, job seekers and dislocated workers as well as employers. It is time for our country to re-commit to having the highest trained workers in the world. That is our competative advantage in a global economy. And, we need to raise our position amoung advanced countries from #24 to at least the top ten. If you haven't seen the film, "2 Million Minutes", I would suggest that you check the trailer out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS_QENuOYL8 .
Friday, April 11, 2008
Rescission
In Mattoon, we are looking at a rescision by the US Congress of $164,000 at a time when we are seeing the economy gop into the tank, people being laid off of their jobs, and a 16% reduction in next years funds. The leadership in the Congress, both parties, and the President are oblivious to the growing disconnect we have in the labor market nation wide. We have a continued decline in highly skilled workers, we are graduating young people from colleges and universities with little or no work experience, we have many people holding two jobs to make ends meet, and we are sending billions over to Iraq and spending nothing on raising our own fellow Americans skills to compete in global market. It is a disaster that is growing worse every day.
The business world better wake up soon and begin to get invested in workforce programs like the national and local foundations. The underpinnings of this counties economy is at stake. The ability of our fellow citizens to keep a good living standard is diminishing every day. The costs of gas, oil, corn, wheat, and other basic comodities is stretching our workers to the breaking point. Couple that with the housing problems that are now the bank problems, that are now the retirement funds of millinons of Americans, that are now the ankls capital to be able to lend, and you see a domino effect like we have never seen in this country.
Washington cannot fix it.
Washington cannot get out of the political/ideological fight they are stuck in.
The people cannot continue to wait for their leaders to act.
The business world better wake up soon and begin to get invested in workforce programs like the national and local foundations. The underpinnings of this counties economy is at stake. The ability of our fellow citizens to keep a good living standard is diminishing every day. The costs of gas, oil, corn, wheat, and other basic comodities is stretching our workers to the breaking point. Couple that with the housing problems that are now the bank problems, that are now the retirement funds of millinons of Americans, that are now the ankls capital to be able to lend, and you see a domino effect like we have never seen in this country.
Washington cannot fix it.
Washington cannot get out of the political/ideological fight they are stuck in.
The people cannot continue to wait for their leaders to act.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Living in Limbo
So, here we are in the workforce system throughout the United States, perched on our chairs, full of uncertainty and with a total abdication of federal policy direction by the congress, we wait for the TEGL (Technical Assistance Bullitin) from the US Department of Labor to tell us how they will take money away at the local level from those we serve or those that serve the public.
At a time when the economy is slowing, gas prices are rising again, and people are being laid off because the work is not there, our national leadership, and especially this administration, has decided to "bribe" the public with a $600 check to pay bills, and not to INVEST in our workforce so that a more secure and positive future can be achieved.
All these actions by the federal government to push everything that costs money back to the states is having its effect. It is like watching dominos fall. First we see the mortgage crisis, then we see the banks in a crunch, then we see a financial inistitution in the UK taken over by the government there to prevent a fianancial catastrophe. Then we see housing prices falling in value, then we see banks tightening credit and re-appraising their property holdingd downward. I could go on and on, from retail to automobile services, a decline is happening. So as this presents an opportunity to retrain thousands of workers to "skill up" to be able to compete globally, the workforce system is reduced in funding and the federal government wants to pull back money that we have already committed to serve the people in job transition.
The fact that the recently resigned leadership at DOL was able to thwart the intention of Congress with the workforce investment act is a travistry in itself. As a public administrator, I do not have the authority to change the direction and intent of the legislative body that enacts policy.
Oh, I would be the first to agree that policy making at the federal level is s l o w and that if there is not a change in process in the future, the next generation will ignore it as unimportant and living in the past. The system as a whole is in need of a re-thinking from top to bottom. We need responsive public policy, funded properly to sustain momentum and results. How we arrive at this new level will take a group of leaders with a compelling vision to make the United Styates better at leading and more responsive and flexible to issues arising. But fiscal management will be the straw that breaks the proverbial back. So many years of a shell game at the top of governments, that eventually we will have to pay the piper. That will be the day all the smoke screens will disappear. I just hope by then we will have invested in our workforce to such a degree that we are back to number one in the world and we can weather this storm too.
But I digress. Workforce Development is the key to the future of our nation and if we do not change the educational output, and raise the awareness of the country to this key ingredient to success, then we will continue our fall as a country in math, science, and reading and eventually other countries will over-shadow us and be in charge of our businesses. We already owe trillions of dollars to other countries. What will happen when they ask for their money back?
At a time when the economy is slowing, gas prices are rising again, and people are being laid off because the work is not there, our national leadership, and especially this administration, has decided to "bribe" the public with a $600 check to pay bills, and not to INVEST in our workforce so that a more secure and positive future can be achieved.
All these actions by the federal government to push everything that costs money back to the states is having its effect. It is like watching dominos fall. First we see the mortgage crisis, then we see the banks in a crunch, then we see a financial inistitution in the UK taken over by the government there to prevent a fianancial catastrophe. Then we see housing prices falling in value, then we see banks tightening credit and re-appraising their property holdingd downward. I could go on and on, from retail to automobile services, a decline is happening. So as this presents an opportunity to retrain thousands of workers to "skill up" to be able to compete globally, the workforce system is reduced in funding and the federal government wants to pull back money that we have already committed to serve the people in job transition.
The fact that the recently resigned leadership at DOL was able to thwart the intention of Congress with the workforce investment act is a travistry in itself. As a public administrator, I do not have the authority to change the direction and intent of the legislative body that enacts policy.
Oh, I would be the first to agree that policy making at the federal level is s l o w and that if there is not a change in process in the future, the next generation will ignore it as unimportant and living in the past. The system as a whole is in need of a re-thinking from top to bottom. We need responsive public policy, funded properly to sustain momentum and results. How we arrive at this new level will take a group of leaders with a compelling vision to make the United Styates better at leading and more responsive and flexible to issues arising. But fiscal management will be the straw that breaks the proverbial back. So many years of a shell game at the top of governments, that eventually we will have to pay the piper. That will be the day all the smoke screens will disappear. I just hope by then we will have invested in our workforce to such a degree that we are back to number one in the world and we can weather this storm too.
But I digress. Workforce Development is the key to the future of our nation and if we do not change the educational output, and raise the awareness of the country to this key ingredient to success, then we will continue our fall as a country in math, science, and reading and eventually other countries will over-shadow us and be in charge of our businesses. We already owe trillions of dollars to other countries. What will happen when they ask for their money back?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Youth Policy - USCM
Steve Trippe
Executive Director
New Ways to Work
California Youth councils, judicial and interventions
Multi-system responsibilities
Local communities and states are finding resources to leverage what they have
Summer jobs conversation
How do we build this investment in the emerging workforce?
Tied to developing skills for the skills gaps and give young people a chance for their future.
The Intermediary Network
There are national affiliates in each state.
How you build small learning communities
Alternative learning environments that connect to the business environment
Key ends;
· Lowering dropout rates
· Increasing graduation rates
· Improving college and post-secondary success
· Re-engaging youth and young adults who are out of school and out of work
· Connecting youth to the workforce and/or post-secondary training that leads to future career success
· Ensuring successful transitions for youth who are in public systems
· Making effective use of public and private resources to ensure youth success
Seven Guiding Principles;
· Our schools cannot do it alone
· All young people need comprehensive and connected services
· All public and private resources need to be utilized
· Youth Development ensuring transition to adulthood
· Develop employer relationship
· Support integrated and sustainable youth systems
· Intermediaries provide the glue.
What do we need to do inside child welfare to get the focus on employment and education?
How we provide better and greater access for education and workforce systems to serve?
What do we do for youth out of the system? Foster youth?
Executive Director
New Ways to Work
California Youth councils, judicial and interventions
Multi-system responsibilities
Local communities and states are finding resources to leverage what they have
Summer jobs conversation
How do we build this investment in the emerging workforce?
Tied to developing skills for the skills gaps and give young people a chance for their future.
The Intermediary Network
There are national affiliates in each state.
How you build small learning communities
Alternative learning environments that connect to the business environment
Key ends;
· Lowering dropout rates
· Increasing graduation rates
· Improving college and post-secondary success
· Re-engaging youth and young adults who are out of school and out of work
· Connecting youth to the workforce and/or post-secondary training that leads to future career success
· Ensuring successful transitions for youth who are in public systems
· Making effective use of public and private resources to ensure youth success
Seven Guiding Principles;
· Our schools cannot do it alone
· All young people need comprehensive and connected services
· All public and private resources need to be utilized
· Youth Development ensuring transition to adulthood
· Develop employer relationship
· Support integrated and sustainable youth systems
· Intermediaries provide the glue.
What do we need to do inside child welfare to get the focus on employment and education?
How we provide better and greater access for education and workforce systems to serve?
What do we do for youth out of the system? Foster youth?
USCM Report 2
Milissa Rohrbach
Senator Kennedy’s Staff
Senior Education Policy Advisor
HELP
Committee
“America Competes Act “
History
Senators were hearing that people across America are struggling to compete and succeed in the global economy.
Other countries are surpassing us - American’s 15 year olds dropping
Dropped in OEC countries to 14th in graduations of highschool.
Our position is in the middle of the pack, no longer the leader.
Rising above the gathering storm – study
Studies
National Academies did the study.
National Center for Education and the Economy also issued a report.
The study is being used as the guide for this bill with bi-partisan report.
Make the US the most attractive for research around the world.
Change immigration to bring more folks with tech skills in.
Make the US the place for innovation
Of these recommendations, the Bill focused on two primary goals.
· Investing in K-12 and Post Secondary in STEM fields
o Train the workers of the future
· Investment in research and development.
o Stimulates the economy’
o Keep America on cutting edge
Many other issues were not addressed in this law. Three committees address this; Commerce committee, Health committee and HELP committee.
Bill put in 2006. Not finished, so this last year would be the one we would move forward and finish it. Some changes after Democratic leadership.
Bill – R&D Increase funding at major governmental agencies
Energy research
Broaden the bill for participation of minorities
MFG extension partnership to double over ten years
Promote innovation with presidential office
Education Investments need to be focused on high needs schools at the federal level. Drive resources where they are needed most.
Teachers – need to recruit to high need schools. Achievement gap between high income and low income students.
Achievement gap – income and minority connections
Teacher arena – funding for programs in STEM fields to get teaching certification
Funding for masters in STEM fields
STEM professionals to get teaching certification
Academic standards – establish a panel to identify promising practices in STEM education. P16 councils (P20 councils) Look at K-12 academic standards ready to work, get training, or on to college without remedial training.
Math Now program getting funding Grades 4-8
Math Skills for secondary schools – same as above
Summer term programs to bridge the summer vacation loss of knowledge
National Science Foundation Scholarships to teachers in STEM fields.
NSF teaching fellows $10,000 stipend to work in high need schools
Master teachers same as above
Teacher institutes – summer and school year – expanded
Community College encourage minority and women participation in STEM fields
Industry comes together to identify the high needs programs
Talent expansion program – STEM education
Improve lab experiences in secondary schools
Energy Division of the Bill
$150M to STEM education programs
Broader reach across the country
Statewide specialty high schools for STEM education
Expand summer institutes for teachers
New department position at Dept of Energy
Next Steps
WIA reauthorization moving in the spring from Senate side Kennedy and Enzi committed to do this.
Senator Kennedy’s Staff
Senior Education Policy Advisor
HELP
Committee
“America Competes Act “
History
Senators were hearing that people across America are struggling to compete and succeed in the global economy.
Other countries are surpassing us - American’s 15 year olds dropping
Dropped in OEC countries to 14th in graduations of highschool.
Our position is in the middle of the pack, no longer the leader.
Rising above the gathering storm – study
Studies
National Academies did the study.
National Center for Education and the Economy also issued a report.
The study is being used as the guide for this bill with bi-partisan report.
Make the US the most attractive for research around the world.
Change immigration to bring more folks with tech skills in.
Make the US the place for innovation
Of these recommendations, the Bill focused on two primary goals.
· Investing in K-12 and Post Secondary in STEM fields
o Train the workers of the future
· Investment in research and development.
o Stimulates the economy’
o Keep America on cutting edge
Many other issues were not addressed in this law. Three committees address this; Commerce committee, Health committee and HELP committee.
Bill put in 2006. Not finished, so this last year would be the one we would move forward and finish it. Some changes after Democratic leadership.
Bill – R&D Increase funding at major governmental agencies
Energy research
Broaden the bill for participation of minorities
MFG extension partnership to double over ten years
Promote innovation with presidential office
Education Investments need to be focused on high needs schools at the federal level. Drive resources where they are needed most.
Teachers – need to recruit to high need schools. Achievement gap between high income and low income students.
Achievement gap – income and minority connections
Teacher arena – funding for programs in STEM fields to get teaching certification
Funding for masters in STEM fields
STEM professionals to get teaching certification
Academic standards – establish a panel to identify promising practices in STEM education. P16 councils (P20 councils) Look at K-12 academic standards ready to work, get training, or on to college without remedial training.
Math Now program getting funding Grades 4-8
Math Skills for secondary schools – same as above
Summer term programs to bridge the summer vacation loss of knowledge
National Science Foundation Scholarships to teachers in STEM fields.
NSF teaching fellows $10,000 stipend to work in high need schools
Master teachers same as above
Teacher institutes – summer and school year – expanded
Community College encourage minority and women participation in STEM fields
Industry comes together to identify the high needs programs
Talent expansion program – STEM education
Improve lab experiences in secondary schools
Energy Division of the Bill
$150M to STEM education programs
Broader reach across the country
Statewide specialty high schools for STEM education
Expand summer institutes for teachers
New department position at Dept of Energy
Next Steps
WIA reauthorization moving in the spring from Senate side Kennedy and Enzi committed to do this.
USCM
Workforce Council – US Conference of Mayors
Began 9:21 AM
Board Business
Report on Pre-Conference workshop in Tampa Florida with the National Workforce Association
Terry Hudson reported that the pre-conference partnership was successful. The income to the USCM was $3,000. The partnership worked well, the topics were economic planning in the workforce development area and the second was the youth programs.
Joan Crigger was the person that helped make this happen from the staff side.
We are planning another joint effort with NWA this year.
Terry announced that he will be semi-retired this year and following Joan Crigger in shifting to a consulting position and helping his board in Huston move toward his replacement.
Business portion first.
Membership report – Sallie Glickman
Membership had a net dollar increase.
Budget Report showed that fiscal restraint needs to continue.
Eliminating the ½ day and an extra overnight should save some money.
There is quite a bit of institutional knowledge around this table and we need to start to think entrepreneurial and consider as a group of powerful resources.
This could be a funding potential as we have quite a bit of experience.
Legislative Update
Big picture items. John Colbert will talk about the next steps for WIA. This session is not looking like we will have a new bill. But now Sen. Enzi and Sen. Kennedy are saying things will move. Senator Murray is saying we will not get it this year and that we need to be thinking of what the future WIA we want to have since it will be next year.
The energy bill is passed and Green Jobs is what everyone is moving forward with.
TAA last year passed including the service sector, and then all the funding went thru merit staff. Since TAA has expired, the Senate and House will take this up again right away. DOL said they will continue TAA until the reauthorization goes thru.
Discussion ensued on green jobs and what is helping move this forward. Construction industry has adopted the environmental standards. This is a trend that will not go away and we need to be looking at ways that we promote this as integrated in many fields and certifications.
Discussion on the rescission, it seems that many states are getting hard hit. How do we explain this to our elected officials because it is so murky and unclear? It is frustrating for all of us.
HR 3920 Global Trade Assistance Act.
Viji Rangaswami reported that they hope to have the law this year. Senator Bakus has proposed a senator bill.
TAA for firms, TAA for farmers was added in 2002. Deficiencies that are highlighted
· Expand the number of workers to qualify
· Revamp training – longer term training
· More user friendly program
Had an OK relationship with DOL but they were unable to fully engage due to political pressure from the white house.
There has been an exclusion of service sector worker. These workers are now facing global competition and should now be included in the TAA. So, it is accountants, IT services, call centers, and the like. There are some countries where if the jobs move there, you cannot get help, if it goes to other countries, you can get help. The bill eliminates these practices.
Public agency workers may also get help if the outsourcing displaces their jobs.
Four innovations:
· Define a minimum level of service- level out the services in every state
· Case Management is very important –
· Increase amount on funding for the next four years
· Require that DOL allocates to states more reasonably Disburse the first day of the fiscal year – not the last year
· Clarifications on training
o College is an acceptable form of training
o Allow workers to supplement training funds with private money
o Allow workers to spread time out to learn
· Make program more user friendly more administrative funding to cover case management costs
· Opportunities for automatic enrollment
· Changed the deadline includes the 816 deadline. 26 weeks to find a job and then get into TAA
· Changes to add Healthcare coverage. HC tax credit for TAA enrolled workers to cover their expenses – raised it from 65% to 85%.
· Sunset the HC after two years to review the results and look for other possibilities.
· TAA wage insurance program.
Hun Quach talked about what the Senate was working on this and hope to get it done this spring.
House and Senate bill
· TAA for communities program that is run by Dept of Commerce.
· They are mirroring after the BRAC system – revitalizing the community
· HC Tax Credit increases the percentage too.
· Lower wage insurance to age 40
· Important to deliver at the local level and add funds up to 5% of training funds.
· Extend to extend the TAA for farmers programs
The challenges are in the Senate and to get the 60 votes. Senator Grassley and Senator Bakus do work together most of the time. There is still an issue in the Senate that is stopping this from moving forward.
Began 9:21 AM
Board Business
Report on Pre-Conference workshop in Tampa Florida with the National Workforce Association
Terry Hudson reported that the pre-conference partnership was successful. The income to the USCM was $3,000. The partnership worked well, the topics were economic planning in the workforce development area and the second was the youth programs.
Joan Crigger was the person that helped make this happen from the staff side.
We are planning another joint effort with NWA this year.
Terry announced that he will be semi-retired this year and following Joan Crigger in shifting to a consulting position and helping his board in Huston move toward his replacement.
Business portion first.
Membership report – Sallie Glickman
Membership had a net dollar increase.
Budget Report showed that fiscal restraint needs to continue.
Eliminating the ½ day and an extra overnight should save some money.
There is quite a bit of institutional knowledge around this table and we need to start to think entrepreneurial and consider as a group of powerful resources.
This could be a funding potential as we have quite a bit of experience.
Legislative Update
Big picture items. John Colbert will talk about the next steps for WIA. This session is not looking like we will have a new bill. But now Sen. Enzi and Sen. Kennedy are saying things will move. Senator Murray is saying we will not get it this year and that we need to be thinking of what the future WIA we want to have since it will be next year.
The energy bill is passed and Green Jobs is what everyone is moving forward with.
TAA last year passed including the service sector, and then all the funding went thru merit staff. Since TAA has expired, the Senate and House will take this up again right away. DOL said they will continue TAA until the reauthorization goes thru.
Discussion ensued on green jobs and what is helping move this forward. Construction industry has adopted the environmental standards. This is a trend that will not go away and we need to be looking at ways that we promote this as integrated in many fields and certifications.
Discussion on the rescission, it seems that many states are getting hard hit. How do we explain this to our elected officials because it is so murky and unclear? It is frustrating for all of us.
HR 3920 Global Trade Assistance Act.
Viji Rangaswami reported that they hope to have the law this year. Senator Bakus has proposed a senator bill.
TAA for firms, TAA for farmers was added in 2002. Deficiencies that are highlighted
· Expand the number of workers to qualify
· Revamp training – longer term training
· More user friendly program
Had an OK relationship with DOL but they were unable to fully engage due to political pressure from the white house.
There has been an exclusion of service sector worker. These workers are now facing global competition and should now be included in the TAA. So, it is accountants, IT services, call centers, and the like. There are some countries where if the jobs move there, you cannot get help, if it goes to other countries, you can get help. The bill eliminates these practices.
Public agency workers may also get help if the outsourcing displaces their jobs.
Four innovations:
· Define a minimum level of service- level out the services in every state
· Case Management is very important –
· Increase amount on funding for the next four years
· Require that DOL allocates to states more reasonably Disburse the first day of the fiscal year – not the last year
· Clarifications on training
o College is an acceptable form of training
o Allow workers to supplement training funds with private money
o Allow workers to spread time out to learn
· Make program more user friendly more administrative funding to cover case management costs
· Opportunities for automatic enrollment
· Changed the deadline includes the 816 deadline. 26 weeks to find a job and then get into TAA
· Changes to add Healthcare coverage. HC tax credit for TAA enrolled workers to cover their expenses – raised it from 65% to 85%.
· Sunset the HC after two years to review the results and look for other possibilities.
· TAA wage insurance program.
Hun Quach talked about what the Senate was working on this and hope to get it done this spring.
House and Senate bill
· TAA for communities program that is run by Dept of Commerce.
· They are mirroring after the BRAC system – revitalizing the community
· HC Tax Credit increases the percentage too.
· Lower wage insurance to age 40
· Important to deliver at the local level and add funds up to 5% of training funds.
· Extend to extend the TAA for farmers programs
The challenges are in the Senate and to get the 60 votes. Senator Grassley and Senator Bakus do work together most of the time. There is still an issue in the Senate that is stopping this from moving forward.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Trying Times
The past week has been a week filled with dashed hopes and dreams, as well as the stark reality of a congressional act to destroy the workforce system in the United States. With the passing of the omnibus bill and three rescission's in the bill for the workforce system, the number of US citizens in job transition that can be served is going down substantially. The staff that serve these folks in our One-Stop system are being laid off and reduced. The cost for the place in which we serve is no longer being supported by the US Department of Labor, and we have leading Republican Candidates saying the system is broken, when those who are members of congress, are the ones that are destroying the system.
The Southeastern Illinois area is serving 30,000 walk in customers each year in the 14 county region. That is a huge number for such a rural area with a population of 325,000 and just over 118,000 employed workers. It means about 25% are looking for a better job or their first job, or a new career.
John McCain is wrong when he says "the workforce system is broken." The workforce system responds appropriately in 98% of the country to the public policy the congress and the administration puts into place. It is the public policy and its effects as it traverses through the US Department of Labor down to the states and then to the locals that the message gets garbled and the heaps of restrictions on the money are put into place. The workforce system many in congress have in their minds existed some 30-40 years ago. It was not efficient. it was ripe with fraud and problems. But in each succeeding iteration, with the support of professionals in the workforce system, there have been improvements.
Nothing beats the fact that a local workforce investment board, given the right mix of business leaders and an excellent executive director can change the face of the region they serve and insure the federal dollars go where they are most needed to job seeker in retraining and in career information and counseling.
It is time for those who are in a job transition to tell the congress of the help they receive at the One Stop system in this country, and the lives we, as a system, save from poverty and homelessness. We also help job holders realize their potential and life career goals. This is what the system does for all people. It is open and universal access. We place Vice-Presidents, nurses, engineers, and any type of job you can imagine.
The local boards believe in accountability. The congress and USDOL dish out meaningless measures (from the business persons perspective) and then hold the local boards and chief elected officials accountable to meet those measures with improvements every year. It is illogical then to continue to decrease the funding each year and expect improvements each year. That can last as long as there is "fat" in the system. But those days are gone. There is no fat to speak of save a few exceptions. We are now facing reducing services to the employers and job seekers substantially.
This is bad public policy. This sets the stage for an America ten years down the road that will be a 3rd world county in its living standard.
America needs to wake up. Ignore the constant pandering to the voters with the promise of reducing taxes. That will only work if all of us reduce our incomes year after year. It is unrealistic and out of touch with reality.
The time for change is now. But how is it that we will not get the same divisive leadership with just a new face and/or party name on it?
I am a fan of Deepak Chopra and through the Integral Institute, this link was offered to add to my blog.
http://in.integralinstitute.org/flash/deepak_chopra/il_audio_sampler.swf
http://in.integralinstitute.org/flash/deepak_chopra/il_audio_sampler.swf
http://in.integralinstitute.org
www.integralnaked.org
Try it out. Deepak is a close friend of a close friend of mine and was generous in attending and speaking to the Convergence I was part of in South Bend, Indiana in 2003.
The Southeastern Illinois area is serving 30,000 walk in customers each year in the 14 county region. That is a huge number for such a rural area with a population of 325,000 and just over 118,000 employed workers. It means about 25% are looking for a better job or their first job, or a new career.
John McCain is wrong when he says "the workforce system is broken." The workforce system responds appropriately in 98% of the country to the public policy the congress and the administration puts into place. It is the public policy and its effects as it traverses through the US Department of Labor down to the states and then to the locals that the message gets garbled and the heaps of restrictions on the money are put into place. The workforce system many in congress have in their minds existed some 30-40 years ago. It was not efficient. it was ripe with fraud and problems. But in each succeeding iteration, with the support of professionals in the workforce system, there have been improvements.
Nothing beats the fact that a local workforce investment board, given the right mix of business leaders and an excellent executive director can change the face of the region they serve and insure the federal dollars go where they are most needed to job seeker in retraining and in career information and counseling.
It is time for those who are in a job transition to tell the congress of the help they receive at the One Stop system in this country, and the lives we, as a system, save from poverty and homelessness. We also help job holders realize their potential and life career goals. This is what the system does for all people. It is open and universal access. We place Vice-Presidents, nurses, engineers, and any type of job you can imagine.
The local boards believe in accountability. The congress and USDOL dish out meaningless measures (from the business persons perspective) and then hold the local boards and chief elected officials accountable to meet those measures with improvements every year. It is illogical then to continue to decrease the funding each year and expect improvements each year. That can last as long as there is "fat" in the system. But those days are gone. There is no fat to speak of save a few exceptions. We are now facing reducing services to the employers and job seekers substantially.
This is bad public policy. This sets the stage for an America ten years down the road that will be a 3rd world county in its living standard.
America needs to wake up. Ignore the constant pandering to the voters with the promise of reducing taxes. That will only work if all of us reduce our incomes year after year. It is unrealistic and out of touch with reality.
The time for change is now. But how is it that we will not get the same divisive leadership with just a new face and/or party name on it?
I am a fan of Deepak Chopra and through the Integral Institute, this link was offered to add to my blog.
http://in.integralinstitute.org/flash/deepak_chopra/il_audio_sampler.swf
http://in.integralinstitute.org/flash/deepak_chopra/il_audio_sampler.swf
http://in.integralinstitute.org
www.integralnaked.org
Try it out. Deepak is a close friend of a close friend of mine and was generous in attending and speaking to the Convergence I was part of in South Bend, Indiana in 2003.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Editorial Posted in JG/TC
The future of this country and its ability to be a leader in the global market is eroding quickly as our political leadership in Congress and the administration face off in a battle that is closing door after door of opportunity to job seekers and employers throughout this country.
Our education system today has many good points, however, when it is measured against countries all over the world, we have fallen from number one in math, science, and reading back in the 70’s to somewhere between 18 and 25th. Our decline is evident when the workforce board talks with employers who are seeking skilled workers to fill the positions they have open. The baby boomers are beginning to retire. As Dr. Ed Gordon spoke to our region back in June, he cites the fact that there will be 30 million fewer workers in the following generations of workers. As I have stated in my presentations to the county boards, rotaries and chambers we are reaching a time where every business will have difficulty in finding good employees. This will affect our economic wealth by lowering it, and every type of business and service will be affected and struggle to find good employees.
The Crossroads Workforce Investment Board serves a 14 county region in southeastern Illinois. We are embarking on collaborations with the community colleges and Eastern Illinois University. We are working with counties, economic developers and mayors to create incubator space for emerging businesses in our area. We are thinking about how we might better align the great educational opportunities in this area with the skill requirements of our business community. The CWIB is here to look at the big picture and collaborate with many regional partners to develop and create a bright future for this region.
But with the stalemate in Washington DC, and the decision to continue to fund the war for $200 billion but not even re-invest in our domestic programs at $22 billion that helps people find sustainable wages and good jobs, our national leadership is failing to grasp the seriousness of the era we are entering. Our economic future will require an ever changing and improving skill sets to stay employed. We need a creative mindset to bring the products and services of the future into reality. This region has the capability and knowledge base to create a new and bright future for our children and beyond. But we need to let our elected representatives know that the 14 county rural region needs a fair chance to access support to address those needs. We want to be about wealth creation in a sustainable way. Our future depends on our persistence and creativity to change what is not working and create what we need for future success. Voice your thoughts to your congress by going to www.Congress.org .
Our education system today has many good points, however, when it is measured against countries all over the world, we have fallen from number one in math, science, and reading back in the 70’s to somewhere between 18 and 25th. Our decline is evident when the workforce board talks with employers who are seeking skilled workers to fill the positions they have open. The baby boomers are beginning to retire. As Dr. Ed Gordon spoke to our region back in June, he cites the fact that there will be 30 million fewer workers in the following generations of workers. As I have stated in my presentations to the county boards, rotaries and chambers we are reaching a time where every business will have difficulty in finding good employees. This will affect our economic wealth by lowering it, and every type of business and service will be affected and struggle to find good employees.
The Crossroads Workforce Investment Board serves a 14 county region in southeastern Illinois. We are embarking on collaborations with the community colleges and Eastern Illinois University. We are working with counties, economic developers and mayors to create incubator space for emerging businesses in our area. We are thinking about how we might better align the great educational opportunities in this area with the skill requirements of our business community. The CWIB is here to look at the big picture and collaborate with many regional partners to develop and create a bright future for this region.
But with the stalemate in Washington DC, and the decision to continue to fund the war for $200 billion but not even re-invest in our domestic programs at $22 billion that helps people find sustainable wages and good jobs, our national leadership is failing to grasp the seriousness of the era we are entering. Our economic future will require an ever changing and improving skill sets to stay employed. We need a creative mindset to bring the products and services of the future into reality. This region has the capability and knowledge base to create a new and bright future for our children and beyond. But we need to let our elected representatives know that the 14 county rural region needs a fair chance to access support to address those needs. We want to be about wealth creation in a sustainable way. Our future depends on our persistence and creativity to change what is not working and create what we need for future success. Voice your thoughts to your congress by going to www.Congress.org .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)