A New Approach to Workforce Development

REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE DOING It’s the BOYS, THE BOYS, THE BOYS!

1996 Reform Legislation Welfare Reform Welfare Reform Economic Development Economic Development Workforce Development Workforce Development

Workforce issues – finding, training and retaining qualified workers -- is #1 concern - Florida Chamber Florida Business leaders say …

Workforce Issues Policy and Strategic Disconnect Workforce & economic development were headed in opposite directions Business was viewed as “owing something back to society” Employees and Job Seekers Lacking in technical skills Lacking in basic literacy skills and work habits Former Welfare Recipients Joined ranks of working poor Limited mobility Administrative Structures and Resources Overlapping Fragmented Inadequate accountability and information technology systems

The New Model. One Stop System Service Delivery Workforce Florida Policy, Planning & Performance Accountability Regional Workforce Boards Local Control and Accountability Performance Contract Agency for Workforce Innovation Consolidated Administrative Structure Service Providers

The Workforce Innovation Act …….streamlines workforce programs and services Creates New Structure Policy, Planning & Accountability– Workforce Florida Consolidated Administrative Structure- Agency for Workforce Innovation Local Service Delivery – Regional Workforce Boards

WHAT MAKES FLORIDA DIFFERENT? “business as a decision maker and partner” Business Lead Policy Board – Makes state policy - STOP RUNNING FEDERAL PROGRAMS – Oversees implementation of policy – Controls the money – Makes decisions – Rewards high performance – Sanctions low performance

High Skills/High Wages Council –named by local economic development councils – created to align the education and training programs with high-paying, high-demand occupations, thus enhancing the state’s efforts to attract and expand job-creating business. WHAT MAKES FLORIDA DIFFERENT? “ fast and responsive to business and community workforce needs”

Better Jobs/Better Wages Council – focuses on training for greater skills, moving workers from underemployment toward self- sufficiency – seeks to divert potential workers from ever becoming welfare recipients by assisting them in job search and retention WHAT MAKES FLORIDA DIFFERENT? “fast and responsive to job seeker and worker needs”

PARTNERING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS If the BOYS won’t come, YOUR PROGRAM DOESN’T MATTER.

New Cornerstone Summit …. A partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation A partnership that brought together leading educators, workforce development professionals, economic develop experts and statewide not-for-profit organizations to address one of Florida’s major challenges ….preparing youth with the skills and training necessary to fill the jobs of tomorrow.

Workforce/Economic Develop Summit …. A partnership with Economic Development Organizations A partnership that brought economic development and workforce professionals together to set goals and align strategies that work for Florida’s businesses, workers and job seekers.

UPGRADING WORKER’S SKILLS Training those WITH JOBS to be more competitive Trained 6,200 at a cost of just over $400 a person to keep the businesses competitive – stopping the lay-off is job ONE Local regions have tripled the use of adult dollars to focus on stopping job loss – 887 enrolled to 2,500 plus Work with Business and Industry organizations – stop doing all the grunt work

…. A Partnership with the State Board of Education, Community Colleges, University System, and Private Colleges and Universities. A partnership that was forged with an innovative idea for meeting business and displaced worker needs in response to the September 11 th attacks.

First Steps for “Getting There” Stop Running Federal Programs – Funding streams should not destroy creativity – Pay less attention regulation and more to product Understand that Business is the Customer Spend your money on your PRODUCT, not on your process.