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OCTOBER 2008 |
New York State Job Numbers for September 2008
SMALL LOSS IN JOBS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNCHANGED IN SEPTEMBER Economy Continued to Slow, Though Still Stronger than Nation
The regional economy continued to add private sector jobs in September 2008, albeit at an anemic over-the-year rate of 0.3 percent. Employment gains were largest in educational and health services (+3,100), natural resources, mining and construction (+1,000), professional and business services (+1,000) and trade, transportation and utilities (+500). Job losses were centered in manufacturing (-1,700) and financial activities (-900). Fallout from the meltdown on Wall Street has clouded the region’s economic future. Historically, the region has benefited from the good times on Wall Street and has been adversely affected when the City’s fortunes declined. Since many local residents work in the City’s financial district, job losses there could have a ripple effect on a number of local industries.
Read the Press Release (10/16/08)
NYC Comptroller Forecasts 165,000 Job Losses
New York City Comptroller's Office is forecasting "that as many as 165,000 private-sector jobs will be lost throughout the city’s economy over the next 24 months, which compares to a forecast of 85,000 jobs lost in the Comptroller’s most recent budget report, issued in July. We now believe that as many as 35,000 of those job losses may come in the financial services industry; our previous forecast was that the industry would contract by 25,000 jobs. The differences reflect the spreading of the economic troubles to other industry sectors as the nation slips into a general recession."
Click here to read more from Chief Economist Frank Braconi (10/15/08)
NYC Comptroller Releases Report on the City's Workforce Development System
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued a comprehensive review of New York City’s workforce development system, finding that the City’s poor coordination of this system has compromised its efficiency, accountability and effectiveness. In the report titled, "Demands of the Time, Turning the Workforce Development Model of the Last Century Into a Skills Education Model for Today," Thompson calls for "elevating workforce development to this higher level within the Mayor’s Office would give it the prominence and emphasis it needs to meet its dual goals of providing businesses with the well-trained employees they require and job-seekers with opportunities to secure a living wage and an upward career path.”
Download the Report PDF (1.16MB)
Read the Press Release (10/15/08)
Grant Opportunity: Community Based Job Training Grant
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announces the availability of approximately $125 million in grant funds for Community-Based Job Training Grants. Community-Based Job Training Grants will be awarded through a competitive process to support workforce training for high-growth/high-demand industries through the national system of community and technical colleges. Proposals are due November 24, 2008.
Download the Federal Register Announcement PDF (119 kb)
Click here for more information on CBJT Grants
Grant Opportunity: YouthBuild Grant
The YouthBuild program provides education and training to high risk youth, giving them tools to compete in today’s quickly changing job market. This alternative education program provides a path to higher education in addition to tools for immediate work in high demand fields such as construction. This is an opportunity to partner with Local Workforce Investment Boards. Proposals are due January 15, 2009.
Download the Federal Register Announcement PDF (106 kb)
Click here for more information on YouthBuild
Election 2008: Another Look at the Presidential Candidate's Workforce Development Plans
A recent blog by Julian Alssid of the Workforce Strategy Center discusses the need for the presidential candidates to talk about their workforce development plans and how the plan will ensure that America's workforce is poised to compete in the global economy. Alssid calls for the candidates to consider re-aligning current federal programs that focus on "job training" and re-program those funds into initiatives that focus on "workforce development."
US Dept of Agriculture and US Dept of Energy Release National Biofuels Action Plan
The Biomass Research and Development Board—co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)—developed the National Biofuels Action Plan to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. The plan focuses on several action areas including: Sustainability; Feedstock Production; Feedstock Logistics; Conversion Science and Technology; Distribution Infrastructure; and Environment, Health and Safety. This could be a key document that may drive research and development investments (e.g., future grants) in this area.
Read the Press Release (USDoE, 10/7/08)
SEPTEMBER 2008 |
SUNY Closer to New Chancellor
After more than a yearlong search for a new chancellor to lead the State University of New York, a panel has submitted a list of finalists to Gov. David A. Paterson, who is expected to meet with the candidates during the last two weeks in September before selecting one, according to education and state officials.
Read more (New York Times, 9/16/08)
New York State Job Numbers for August 2008
The Region's economy continues to show signs of weakness, as the job market continues to deteriorate. Private sector employment posted a growth rate of 0.4 percent, a far cry from the 1 percent recorded for the same period last year. Meanwhile the unemployment rate continues to rise. The August unemployment rate rose from a 3.8 percent last year to 5.3 percent this year, the highest August rate in 14 years.
Private sector employment still posted minimal gains (2,800 jobs over the year), however, the Wall Street crisis could further erode our job market. Many of these high-paid Wall Streeters resides in our region, so any fallout on Wall Street is likely to be echoed in our community. Any number of industries could be impacted from professional and business services, to retailers, to leisure and hospitality, to construction.
Read the Press Release 9/18/08 (pdf 84kb)
Election 2008: Presidential Candidates and Their Proposals on Workforce Education and Training
The Workforce Alliance just published a document analyzing the Presidential candidates' proposals and legislative histories around a range of workforce education and training issues.
Read the analysis and download the report
Grant Opportunitiy: Career Pathways Program RFP
The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), in cooperation with the NYS Department of Labor (DOL), issued a new Career Pathways Program RFP to prepare individuals for jobs in industry sectors that offer advancement opportunities and career ladders. A total of $5 million in federal TANF and WIA funds will be awarded statewide ($2.5 million for at least 5 projects in NYC) to support selected projects for a one-year period. Proposals are due October 15, 2008.
Read more and download the full RFP
AUGUST 2008 |
Governor Paterson Asks Legislature to Consider CUNY & SUNY Budget Cuts
CUNY & SUNY budgets may see their 2008-09 and 2009-10 budgets cut by 7%. That's equivalent to a decrease of about $51 million for CUNY and $96 million for SUNY in General Fund spending.
Governor Paterson Press Release
Governor Paterson Conference Call (ny.gov - podcast, 8/11/08)
Gov asks big slash in CUNY budget (NY Daily News, 8/11/08)
Effect of budget cuts feared within SUNY system (Newsday, 8/11/08)
United University Professions President talks about SUNY cuts (WRVO-FM - podcast, 8/4/08)
Getting to Know the Millennials
A recent article and a very popular YouTube video helps depict today's student. The article discusses the recent increase of the Millennial generation (born between 1980 and 2000) into the workforce and the challenges schools have in preparing them as well as companies figuring them out.
The YouTube video delves into technology and the state of education today while capturing sentiments about student life in relation to education and other issues. The video was produced by Professor Michael Wesch and stars Kansas State University's
ANTH 200: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class.
Article - From Womb to Work: Educating the Millennials
YouTube - A Vision of Students Today
Greener Pathways - A Report on Middle-Skill Green Jobs
The Workforce Alliance in collaboration with the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and the Apollo Alliance recently released Greener Pathways, a report on middle-skill green jobs that includes an action plan for state policymakers, highlighting policy, program, and system reform opportunities.
Read the report PDF (12.9MB)
Read the Press Release PDF (400kb)
$500 Million Slated for Job Training by Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd made the opening bid for a new supplemental spending measure this week that provides $24.1 billion in new spending for a host of domestic programs including job training:
- $250 million for employment and training activities for dislocated workers. These funds will help more than 66,000 people receive services, which include job search and career counseling, as well as training.
- $250 million will support part-time jobs after school, paid internships, and community service jobs for older youth, and will help low income youth acquire work skills and income that can help families living in poverty or experiencing economic turmoil.
US Senate Committee on Appropriations Press Release PDF (164kb)
JULY 2008 |
Grant Opportunities: Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Technology-Based Learning (TBL) Initiative
ETA announces the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds under the TBL Initiative to be awarded through a competitive process. The purpose of the Initiative is to expand access to training resulting in an increased number of workers trained, particularly in high-growth, high-demand occupations, and to meet the needs of industry for skilled employees. Due date is August 19, 2008.
US DOL Solicitation for Grant Application Info
Full Announcement from Federal Register
NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Offers Grant Money for Training TANF Eligible Individuals
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), Bureau of Employment Contract Management issues this Request for Proposals to secure the services of eligible organizations* to provide education and/or training activities to help address the needs of TANF eligible individuals to enable them to become literate, productive and successful in the workplace, home and community. Proposals are due by September 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm.
*Organizations eligible to apply for funding under this initiative include non-profit
organizations, including school districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services
(BOCES), community colleges, institutes of higher learning, public libraries and
community-based organizations.
Educational Resources Program RFP Information
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Winner in the House and Senate Appropriations Committees Markup for Fiscal 2009
The House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies moved their respective bills through the markup process and received full Appropriations. Both bills exceed the funding levels requested by the president, who has indicated that he would veto any bill that exceeds his request, as he did last year. As a result, it is widely believed that most appropriations bills will be withheld until a new administration takes office.
Workforce Development Programs |
FY 09 Administration Proposal |
FY 09 |
FY 09 |
| Youth Programs |
- |
$924,069,000 |
$930,500,000 |
| Adult Programs |
- |
$861,540,000 |
$864,199,000 |
| Dislocated Workers |
- |
$1,504,707,000 |
$1,481,903,000 |
| WIA Consolidated* |
$2,826,000,000 |
a |
b |
| Community-Based Job Training Grants |
$125,000,000 |
$145,000,000 |
$125,000,000 |
Dept. of Labor Total |
$2,951,000,000 |
$3,290,461,000 |
$3,276,727,000 |
a $3,290,316,000
b $3,276,602,000
US House Committee on Appropriations Press Release
US Senate Committee on Appropriations Press Release
CEANY Set to Join The Coalition of Lifelong Learning Organizations (COLLO)
COLLO operates for the promotion of social welfare by developing, maintaining, and improving lifelong learning, adult, and continuing education throughout the United States and internationally; and provides a basis for cooperation and action among its member organizations and associations.
Click here to go to COLLO's Website
SUNY Announces Community College Workforce Development Training Grant Program
Dennis Golladay, Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges, annouced that the Governor and Legislatue have approved a continuation of the $2,000,000 line item appropriation for workforce development training grants (contract courses) for the 2008-2009 academic year. Proposals are due August 22, 2008.
Click here for the SUNY Memorandum and Program Guidelines PDF (1.6MB)
Adult Learning in Focus: National and State-by-State Data
In Adult Learning in Focus: National and State-by-State Data, the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has teamed with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) to provide states with the information needed to assess state performance on adult learning and identify where to direct future strategies.
Click here to go to CAEL's website for more information.
Ohio Stackable Certificates: Models for Success
Community Research Partners, a nonprofit research center that strengthens Ohio communities through data, information and knowledge, attempts to answer the question, "What do adults need in order to succeed in postesecondary education and training?" with their Workforce Research Report titled, Ohio Stackable Certificates: Models for Success. Learn how Ohio is transforming their Workforce Development Education. The certificates are to start with basic skills and move through college-level and job-readiness work. Students also could get advanced, specialized training in their field.
Click here to go to Community Research Partners website for more information and to download the report on the bottom of the page.
JUNE 2008 |
New York State Commission on Higher Education Releases the Final Report
According to Governor Paterson, "This report recommends major policy changes that, if implemented, will result in the long-term improvement of higher education in New York State. The Commission believes strongly that such changes are needed if New York is to remain competitive in the 21st century, a time when education is more important than ever for the intellectual, cultural and economic wellbeing of our citizens."
- 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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