Item M1BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: May 21, 2008
Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes No x Department: Dist.3
Staff Contact /Phone #: Tammy Sweeting #3430
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Presentation by Jackie Harder to update the BOCC on the progress of the South Florida Workforce
Development Board.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included x Not Required
DISPOSITION:
Revised 11/06
AGENDA ITEM #
m 1
Legendary
KEY LARGO
Chamber of Commerce
106000 Overseas Highway • Key Largo • FL • 33037. 3051451-1414 • Fax: 3051451-4726 • keylargochamber.org
May 21, 2008
The Honorable Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Board of Monroe County Commissioners
Key West, Florida
Dear Mayor McCoy:
Since my reappointment to the South Florida Workforce Investment Board is on the
agenda today, I thought it would be a good time to give an overview of what's been
happening with South Florida Workforce (SFW) in relation to the Florida Keys.
First, some background:
SFW is a public -private partnership agency that initiates state- and federal -funded
workforce development programs in Miami -Dade and Monroe counties. We help
employers and job seekers with employment services, labor market information and
professional placement, and provide funding for training economically disadvantaged
adults, youth, dislocated workers, individuals transitioning from welfare, people with
disabilities and refugees.
SFW also provides business incentives and resources in our communities.
The SFW Investment Board sets the policy by which all this is accomplished. There
are 45 members on the board. Of that number, only three of us are from Monroe
County, including Gregg Talbert from Spottswood Cos. and the county's Community
Services Director, Deb Barsell.
The board is not just diverse, but packed with movers and shakers. We have city and
elected officials, union representatives, business and economic development groups
(including the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce), educators, bankers, health-care
providers, builders, attorneys and the military. They are an incredibly talented,
aware and involved group of people.
Since you appointed me to this position 18 months, I have attended about 15 full
board and committee meetings. And one of my most important roles is to say: "And
Monroe County. And Monroe County." Fortunately, other board members are
receptive to the unique challenges that face Monroe County.
This fiscal year, SFW has spent about $2.2 million in the Keys. Through our Career
Center service provider, Youth Co-op, SFW funding has helped more than 1,400
people find jobs, placed 105 people in professional positions and took 532 people off
the welfare rolls at an average hourly wage of $17.17.
Local government and other agencies in the Keys have directly benefited from SFW
spending. More than 500 employees with Monroe County government, the City of
Key West and Wesley House have received training funded through SFW.
We are also working with Florida Keys Community College to provide course work on
everything from nursing to criminal justice to computer and marine technology to
hospitality skills.
$2.2 million is a lot of money, but we want to spend more - and help more - people
here. By the terms of our interlocal agreement, SFW is obligated to spend 6.7% of
its budget, or $4.1 million, in the Keys.
Part of the challenge of doing that is allocation mandates from the federal
governrrient... certain funds must be used only for helping the unemployed, for
example.
In the Keys, we don't have unemployment problems, and so that money isn't
completely spent. We need to find ways to make those funding streams more
flexible, and to change the service strategy in Monroe County.
We need to focus more on employed workers, improving their skills and increasing
their wages. It sounds like it should be easy, but remember, we're talking about the
federal government. Only training that results in certification, such as automotive
mechanics and nursing, can be reimbursed under federal rules.
But we need more training areas like how to use a computer, how to get along with
others, building leaders and similar skills. In order to get funding for that kind of
training, we will have to come up with our own certification program, which local
business organizations will work on in the coming fiscal year.
By involving the private sector in the areas of workforce development and training,
we should be able to spend our full allocation in Monroe County and lay the
foundation for success for our workers and employers.
I thank you for your appointment to this important board and look forward to serving
another term.
Sincerely, , I
i Chamber of Commerce
rida Workforce Investment Board
To develop and actively market a vibrant political, social and economic business
environment by using the individual and collective power of its membership.
MONROE COUNTY FUNDING
FISCAL YEAR JULY 1 2007 TO JUNE 30 2008
Adult Services
Youth Service
In School
Out of School
Training Services
Youth
Adult
WIA WIA
Adult Dislocated
Worker
$ 132,040 $ 74,246
WIA
Youth Total
WT/TANF Funding
$ 898,884 $1,105,170
$ 217,280 $ 217,280
$ 89,844 $ 89,844
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