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JULY 2009 |
Grant - Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries
The US Department of Labor announced the availability of approximately $220 million in grant funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) for projects that provide training and placement services to help workers pursue careers within Health Care (Nursing, Allied Health, & Long-Term Care) and other high growth and emerging industries. Though this announcement makes specific note of the Health Care sector, it also supports the workforce and training needs of workers and employers in other high growth and emerging industries such as information technology, advanced manufacturing, wireless and broadband deployment, transportation and warehousing, and biotechnology.
SGA Notice Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries (PDF)
Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization Hearing
The Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee held a hearing on July 16th titled “Modernizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 to Help Workers and Employers Meet the Changing Demands of a Global Market.” The purpose of the hearing is to investigate how best to streamline and coordinate the roles of the federal and state governments with the local training areas, as well as to ensure that the needs of workers, jobseekers, employers and local communities are met. Several witnesses, including Assistant Secretary of Labor, Jane Oates, and Undersecretary of Education, Martha Kanter discussed the need for improved coordination at the local, state, and national level to meet the growing need for a well-trained, 21st century American workforce. This is the second hearing on WIA reauthorization the subcommittee held this year, hopefully signaling a greater commitment to reauthorizing the law.
Click here to see the recorded hearing
President Obama's Plan to Strengthen Community Colleges
On July 14th, President Obama announced at Macomb Community College a new initiative to strengthen community colleges in their role of training workers for new jobs... calling for an additional 5 million community college graduates by 2020 and new initiatives to teach Americans the skills they will need to compete with workers from other nations.
The President's Blog Entry 7/14/09
President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers Releases Report on the Workforce
The President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) presents a projection of potential developments in the U.S. labor market over the next five to ten years and discusses the preparations necessary to develop the 21st century workforce.
Click here for the Clean Energy Report (PDF)
JUNE 2009 |
Grants - Green Jobs Training as Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Congress provided $500 million for competitive grants for green jobs training as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Although originating under the same authorizing language, the Department of Labor (DOL) has split this funding into five separate grant competitions for strategic partnerships and other entities to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.
SGA Notice Pathways Out of Poverty (PDF) – Applications due 9/29/09
SGA Notice State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Grants - (PDF) Applications due 10/20/09
SGA Notice Energy Training Partnership Grants (PDF) - Applications due 9/4/09
SGA Notice Green Capacity Building Grants (PDF) - Applications due 8/5/09
State Labor Market Information Improvement Grants – Applications due 8/14/09
Two Green Reports: "The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy" & "How Clean-Energy Policies Can Fight Poverty and Raise Living Standards in the United States"
Two new reports further demonstrate the economic benefits of investing in green energy, bolstering those calling for lawmakers to pass a strong clean energy bill. The studies found that investing $150 billion per year in conservation, renewables, and grid upgrades will result in 1.7 million new jobs in America. That is 300% more jobs than instead investing in fossil fuels.
Click here for the Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy Report (PDF)
Click here for the How Clean-Energy Policies Can Fight Poverty... Report (PDF)
The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America
The clean energy economy, still in its infancy, is emerging as a vital component of America’s new economic landscape. That’s the finding of The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, a groundbreaking analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts that sheds light on an increasingly important part of the nation’s economic recovery.
Click here for the Clean Energy Economy Report (PDF)
MAY 2009 |
New York State's Clean Energy Industry: Labor Market and Workforce Intelligence
This report has been prepared in response to the First Report of the Renewable Energy Task Force which directed the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)…to immediately undertake an inventory of existing workforce training programs and streamline such efforts to utilize existing resources in the most optimal manner.
Click here for the Clean Energy Report (PDF)
APRIL 2009 |
New York State Association of Counties: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Creating Jobs by Investing in New York's Future
NYSAC is hosting a series of briefings to provide county leaders with detailed information on the workforce training resources available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The briefing series, “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Creating Jobs by Investing in New York’s Future,” presents regional economic profiles and federal stimulus opportunities. The topics included in each session include:
- The Gathering Storm: Why the ARRA investment in workforce training and job creation is critical to New York’s Future;
- What you need to know about unemployment insurance;
- The Workforce Investment Act;
- Significant industry sectors for the region; and
- Roundtable discussions
Click here for the Agenda and Registration (PDF)
MARCH 2009 |
Stimulus Money is Coming: Align with WIBs NOW!
The US DOL just released Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 14-08. It provides policy guidance and direction regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“the Recovery Act”) funding for activities authorized under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act. If you have not already, check with your WIBs to see if there have been any changes to the Individual Training Account policies as well as incumbent worker training and customized training policies. Educational institutions should align with their WIB and enter into contracts to provide training and education in high-demand occupations.
Download Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 14-08 (3/18/09 -PDF)
Center for Health Workforce Studies Releases Trends in the Supply and Demand for Health Workers in NYS
The Health Care Workforce in New York, 2007: Trends in the Supply and Demand for Health Workers provides an overview of the health care workforce trends in New York by employment setting and region. Includes number of workers, recruitment and retention difficulties, and demand projections.
Download The Report (March 2009)
FEBRUARY 2009 |
The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs
The Brookings Institution held a briefing on The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs. While Americas shortage of highly-skilled workers is well known, less attention has been focused on middle-skill jobs—those that require more than high school, but less then a four-year college degree. These jobs make up roughly half of all employment today, and demand for middle-skill workers is expected to continue despite the economic downturn.
Senate Passes Stimulus Plan: Bill Moves to Conference Between House and Senate
The Workforce Alliance has reported that the Senate's version of the economic recovery legislation contains about $4 billion in funding for workforce development programs under the Department of Labor. The bill now moves to conference, where conferees will work out the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills. Congressional leaders are hoping to have legislation ready for President Obama’s signature before the President’s Day recess.
The Workforce Alliance Breaking e-news Release (2/10/09)
SUNY Has a New Chancellor, Nancy Zimpher from the University of Cincinnati
SUNY has tapped University of Cincinnati President Nancy Zimpher as the first woman to serve as SUNY Chancellor. She will take office on June 1 and start tackling SUNY's deep deficits. The state is mired in a fiscal crisis that has resulted in $200 million in SUNY budget cuts and a $620 tuition increase. In addition, Zimpher wants to make it easier for students to transfer within institutions -- SUNY has struggled unsuccessfully for years to solve transfer problems between its two- and four-year institutions. Zimpher said she also wants to boost research funding and strengthen the link between academic research and local economic development.
Governor Paterson Announcement (2/10/09)
Retraining Helps Unemployed Find New Careers
With news about stores like Fortunoff who employ 378 people and has been a staple in Long Island retail since 1922, and as the national unemployment rate soars, retraining is becoming increasingly popular. Here are examples of how other states are assisting their citizens in retraining and obtaining jobs. From collaborations between colleges and the state's One Stop system, funding has been allowed for both non-credit and credit programs. These efforts don't come without issues though.
Going Back to school to get a job (1/27/09, CNNMoney.com)
Take Charge Thursday: Retraining can change your life (2/5/09, WNDU, article and video)
County moves fast to help retrain laid-off employees (2/9/09)
Save the Date: CEANY 2009, October 6-9
Mark your calendar now for this year's CEANY Annual Conference to be held October 6 – 9 at the beautiful Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, NY. Don't miss "Sowing Ideas and Harvesting Success in Difficult Times," the theme of the conference. The Conference Committee is working diligently to create an exciting program of relevant topics such as: cutting costs while maintaining quality; creating fundable programs; pursuing low-cost options for programming, marketing, and professional development; identifying educational topics and trends; grant writing; securing dwindling university resources; and re-examining the direction and role of continuing education in today's society. If you have any questions, would like to help plan the conference, or have ideas to share, feel free to contact Kimberly Maybr, CEANY 2009 Conference Chair: kimberly.maybar@baruch.cuny.edu
Where is the Economy Heading?
Even with a new administration in the White House and a federal economic stimulus package on its way, the economic outlook is bleak as companies continue to shed costs. While there may be signs of recovery in six months, the reality is that it will not be business as usual until 2011, according to the IBISWorld Recession Briefing. IBISWorld expects this to be one of the longest recessions in the post-war era, according to the briefing, because consumers have been hit hard too. They face job insecurity, and the values of their homes and retirement funds continue to dwindle. Many organizations already have responded to the economic situation with layoffs, hiring freezes and wage cutbacks.
IBISWorld Recession Briefing: Economic Crisis: When will it End? (2/5/09)
JANUARY 2009 |
WIA Impact Study Shows Mixed Results
IMPAQ conducted a nonexperimental net impact evaluation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program to estimate the average impact of the program across individuals, that is, the difference in average earnings or employment following program participation, as compared to the average if these individuals had not participated in the program. The study focused on the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs which offer three levels of service:
- Core services, including outreach, job search and placement assistance, and labor market information
- Intensive services, involving more comprehensive assessments, development of individual employment plans, and counseling and career planning
- Training services, occupational and basic skills training that link customers to job opportunities in their communities.
WIA Net Impact Evaluation Final Report (PDF)
Grant Opportunity: Literacy Zone Initiative: Federal Adult Education Funding From WIA Title II, 2009-2012
Funds are available through this Request for Proposals (RFP) for eligible applicants to provide instructional programs in adult literacy below the post-secondary level and support services, such as educational counseling and guidance. Approximately $3 million per year for three years. Sixty-five percent of the available funds will be targeted for applications from New York City, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Yonkers. Thirty-five percent will be targeted for applications from the rest of the state. Proposals due March 2, 2009.
NYSED RFP: Literacy Zone (1/14/09)
Possible New Economic Stimulus Plan May Include Workforce Development Funding
The Workforce Alliance highlights possible items to be included in any economic recovery bill such as significant investments in infrastructure as well as additional funding for workforce development and social services. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have indicated that the package may top $600 billion, and they are working to have the bill ready to sign by the time President-elect Obama takes office on January 20. Congressional Republicans and the administration have generally resisted the call for a new stimulus package, and in particular oppose infrastructure spending as too slow to be truly stimulative.
Read the Washington Update: Stimulus Edition PDF (68kb)
New Report from Pew Internet & American Life Project, Internet Revolution: The Future of the Internet III
A survey of internet leaders, activists and analysts shows they expect major tech advances as the phone becomes a primary device for online access, voice-recognition improves, artificial and virtual reality become more embedded in everyday life, and the architecture of the internet itself improves.
They disagree about whether this will lead to more social tolerance, more forgiving human relations, or better home lives.
Here are the key findings on the survey of experts by the Pew Internet & American Life Project that asked respondents to assess predictions about technology and its roles in the year 2020:
- The mobile device will be the primary connection tool to the internet for most people in the world in 2020.
- The transparency of people and organizations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance, or forgiveness.
- Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the internet will be more prevalent and accepted by 2020.
- Those working to enforce intellectual property law and copyright protection will remain in a continuing arms race, with the crackers who will find ways to copy and share content without payment.
- The divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will be further erased for everyone who is connected, and the results will be mixed in their impact on basic social relations.
- Next-generation engineering of the network to improve the current internet architecture is more likely than an effort to rebuild the architecture from scratch.
DECEMBER 2008 |
Report Released: NYS Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Executive Budget Preliminary Overview
Governor Paterson’s Executive Budget proposal uses various cost-saving measures, non-recurring resources and new taxes, fees, charges and assessments to close a $1.7 billion budget deficit in fiscal year 2008-09 and a $13.7 billion gap in 2009-10, according to a report issued by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. It states that the Governor is seeking to reduce base aid to SUNY/CUNY Community Colleges by $65 million in SFY 2009-10 and SFY 2010-11.
Read the Press Release (12/30/08)
Read the Report (12/30/08) PDF (176kb)
New York State Job Numbers for November 2008
LARGEST DECLINE IN PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS IN MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS - State's Unemployment Rate Climbs to Highest Level Since April 2004
Most labor market indicators suggest conditions in New York State's economy continued to deteriorate in November. The state's private sector job count suffered its largest monthly drop since October 2001, the statewide unemployment rate registered its highest level since April 2004, and initial claims for Unemployment Insurance continued to rise markedly.
Read the Press Release (12/18/08)
NOVEMBER 2008 |
CEANY Annual Conference: A Great Time Had by All
Over 150 people attended CEANY's Annual Conference held November 12-14, 2008 at the Turning Stone Resort. With over 25 concurrent and plenary sessions, attendees took away valuable knowledge and gained new perspective on cutting edge topics like Web 2.0 and renewable energy. There was also a record number of vendors all ready to help us with potential new revenue streams.
Of course, what would the annual conference be without the networking opportunities. From the Gaming Experience Demo to the New Member Event and Cocktail Reception, attendess enjoyed meeting others from around the state.
We also raised over $2,500 from the Live Auction which will go to student scholarships. Thanks to everyone who participated! Lastly, many attendees won a variety of prizes from the coveted Poker Chip Design USB Drive to the many casino themed DVD's. Congrats to our winners.
We look forward to seeing you at next year's conference!
2008 Conference Photo Gallery
The Hat Software
New York State Job Numbers for October 2008
SMALL DROP IN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, JOB COUNT DECLINES IN OCTOBER - First Over-the-Year Decline in Statewide Private Sector Job Count in Almost Five Years
The region’s labor market conditions continued to deteriorate. Private sector employment grew by only 0.2 percent over the past year. Job losses were more widespread, as most industries recorded over-the-year declines. Nonetheless, the region’s private sector job growth still outpaced the state (-0.2 percent) and nation (-1.2 percent). The ongoing weakness in the local job market has been accompanied by higher unemployment rates in recent months.
Read the Press Release (11/20/08) PDF
NEWS ARCHIVES |
Click here to read more news from 2008
- Click
here to review CEANY's Strategic Plan.
- The database of noncredit programs approved for remedial aid is on our site. Please use the links in the Remedial Database Members Only area to download the spreadsheets.
NOTE: Please use the same login and password that you use for the Membership Database.
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