Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program
Resources

Disseminated monthly by the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of National Programs, Division of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 http://wdsc.doleta.gov/msfw

Economic Development Information Coalition Regional Forums
To provide information about economic development practices and programs, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has put together the Economic Development Information Coalition (EDIC). EDIC is made up of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). They have joined EDA to disseminate information to economic development practitioners serving distressed communities through a monthly e-mail newsletter; quarterly telecasts; 20 community forums held throughout the country; and a quarterly magazine.

EDIC has announced the following eight in a series of 20 regional economic development forums to be held around the country:

January 22                    Elkins, West Virginia
February 9                    Richland, Washington
February 11                    Medford, Oregon
February 13                    Stockton, California
February 18                    Laurinburg, North Carolina
February 20                    Greenville, South Carolina
February 24                    Ocala, Florida

The forums are free of charge, although registration is required. Over 100 economic development practitioners and policy makers are expected to attend each day-long event. The morning component will include presentations about successful approaches to business retention and recruitment, job creation and retention, regional economic growth strategies, and strategic partnerships. The afternoon component will include three breakout training sessions, hosted by representatives from EDA regional offices. Topics will include CEDS, construction and an overview of EDA programs.

The agendas for these and future forums -- plus the registration form, information about speakers and the forum meeting facility -- will be available at the NADO Web site.   Dates for the remaining 10 forums will be announced soon. For more information about the forums, contact Laurie Thompson at (202) 624- 5948 or lthompson@nado.org.

TEGL 15-03: Common Measures Policy

Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No.15-03 informs states and grantees of the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) policy on common performance measures for Federal job training and employment programs, including guidelines on program participation and exit. The common measures represent one component in ETA’s development of a single comprehensive system to collect, record, and report program performance for workforce programs.  A copy of the TEGL may be downloaded through ETA’s website for Advisories and Memorandums at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/

Workforce System Program Performance Results

ETA compiled a report to demonstrate the success of the workforce system’s performance in achieving annual goals.  The review provides a detailed glance of ETA’s programs and progress in meeting the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals for performance indicators in entered employment, employment retention, earnings gains, and basic skill attainment among others. The results presented in this publication show results as of June 30, 2003 compared against the annual performance goal.

Both the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) and the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Youth Program (MSFW) demonstrate results higher than the national goals set.  Outcome results are as follow: 

Entered employment for this period is 87% compared to the GPRA goal of 63% and thirteen percent higher than results for June 30, 2002;

Earnings gain for this period is $4, 324 compared to the GRPA goal of $2,728 and earnings gain for June 30, 2002 which was $3,750

Skill attainment results for the MSFW youth program for this period is 89% compared to the GPRA goal of 70%.

For a complete version of the Workforce System Results can be found at the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration’s website at www.doleta.gov or to link directly to the document, you may go to http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2003/wsr063003.pdf.

Youth Development Institute

The goal of the The National Youth Development Practitioners Institute (YDPI) is to promote and enhance the dedication of resources system-wide to improve the skills, knowledge, and commitment of frontline workers in the field of youth services.  Part of the activities include actual direct staff training, state level leadership development around staff training, model “what works” in staff training, develop transferable products for staff training, and continue to develop distance learning and web-based applications to staff training, etc. to assist local workforce areas in improving the quality of their youth programs and one-stops in local communities. YDPI, which is operated by The National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL), in partnership with the US Department of Labor with support from the Ford, CS Mott, and Rockefeller foundations, is responsive to what many consider the dearth of youth program capacity in the National Workforce Development System in the past 15 years. This project was initiated in October 2000 and was successful in training upwards of 2000 frontline workers throughout the country. Specifically, its services would include:

• Quarterly national and regional sessions that provide a deep immersion in best practices in youth development and education for out-of-school youth.
• “Train-the-trainer” tools to state leaders interested in improving the capacity of their state programs.
• Provide support and assistance to our categorical youth programs, including challenge grants and youth offender projects.
• Through these and other services, YDPI seeks to be the preeminent clearinghouse for best practices in youth programs.

Regional Announcements

REGION I

The New England Board of Higher Education along with representatives from the six New England states community colleges held a workforce development meeting on January 12, 2004.  This was an initial meeting to discuss a Regional project termed "Center of Excellence for Virtual Product Development" which represents next generation manufacturing in hopes that it will become a National model.  Vision is to enable students/companies to be competitive in global economy.  Goal is to provide students flexibility to move from region to region enabling them to use education toward advanced manufacturing or engineering degrees via the use of national technology standards that include engineering and technological competencies in manufacturing (either already available/where not establish).  Accomplish this by creating entrepreneurial programs where students develop new products and services as well as attaining education.  A National Science Foundation award to American Association of Community Colleges produced a product through WGBH Boston called "Pathways to Technology".  This is a series of videos on Biotechnology, Information Technology, Precision Agriculture, Process Technology, Marine Science, etc. as well as a CD which features a recruitment toolkit.  This product is free while supplies last and videos can be viewed and ordered by going to www.pathwaystotechnology.org  

REGION III

Supplier to Bring 80 Jobs to Tallahassee, Alabama –Yient Alabama Corporation will begin production in June at a plant located at the Tallahassee Entrepreneur Center, and will provide 80 new jobs over the next three years.  A subsidieary of Yient Co., Ltd. Of Seaoul, South Korea, the company will,ake automation machinery and equipment, racks, pallets and container carts for suppliers to Montgomery’s Hyundai plant.

Plant to Expand by 40% and Add New Jobs in Bowling Green, Kentucky – Toyo Automotive Parts, a Japanese company that makes machines used by robots in automotive manufacturing, will expand its Bowling Green plant. 25 to 30 new jobs will be added to the current workforce of 140.  Hourly wages for employees range from $10.50 to $12.50.

Anderson County, South Carolina to get Walgreen Company Distribution Center – The Walgreen Company plans will build a $175 million distribution center on Interstate 85.  When it opens in 2007, the center will employ about 450 people.

Up to 50 New Jobs Planned at Coach Incorporated in Jacksonville, Florida – Coach Incorporated intends to add up to 50 jobs at its Jacksonville customer service center and also add a second shift to its international distribution center at Jacksonville International Tradeport. Coach opened the Tradeport center, in North Jacksonville, in 1995 and expanded it in 1999.  More than 400 people work at the 560,000-square-foot operation.

Neogen Corporation to Add 70 Jobs in Lexington, Kentucky – The Lexington operations of Neogen Corporation are expanding and moving into a bigger facility.  Neogen recently purchased a ConAgra subsidiary, Hess & Clark, an Ohio company that makes disinfectants for farms and food-processing facilities.  That operation is moving to Lexington and Neogen will hire about 70 people, doubling the present local workforce. The jobs range from 20 that will pay $27,000 a year to 35 that will pay $90,000 or more.

Trucking Company Adding 400 New Jobs in Georgia – One of North America's largest truckload carriers will open a new operating center in DeKalb County near Atlanta next month and is looking to add 400 new truck drivers and owner-operators in Georgia to service businesses throughout the Southeast.  Schneider National, Inc., will hold a career fair in Savannah on Wednesday at the Savannah Career Center. Representatives will be available to meet with interested candidates, answer questions and conduct interviews. Schneider plans to hire the 400 regional and over-the-road drivers and owner-operators in the first quarter of 2004.

Nordstrom Announces 200 Job Openings in SouthPark, North Carolina – Nordstrom, Inc., has 200 job openings for local workers at its SouthPark department store.  The company will be hiring for sales in men's, women's and children's apparel; shoes; accessories; cosmetics; and support positions in alterations, housekeeping and the store's cafe and espresso bar.

REGION V

Associated Press reported that a new $1.5 billion uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio will create about 500 new jobs which is good news for this rural region struggling with chronic unemployment.  The announcement was made Monday by USEC Inc. that the Ohio site had been chosen for the new facility.

On-line help wanted list – Chicago area news papers, excluding the Chicago Tribune have linked their job listings as a new Web site.  ChicagoJobs.Com expects to create the region’s most extensive online help-wanted list by combining job postings from nearly every major newspaper in the Chicago area.  Aimed at both local job seekers and employers, the site covers job openings in an 11 county-area in and around Chicago.

Useful Websites

Career Voyages, launched by Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, on October 8, 2003 is an exciting new website designed to help young people to start exploring career options in high school.  The result of collaboration between the Department of Labor and the Department of Education, www.CareerVoyages.gov provides information and connections to career opportunities in high-growth industries and high-demand occupations.   It also contains an extensive collection of tools for career exploration, assistance for locating education, training and financial aid, or to identify jobs.

The new web site features detailed information about the fastest growing industries and occupations, the skills and education required to prepare for them, job openings by area, and wages, licensing requirements and growth rates for numerous occupations.  Although some career paths described on the Web site require a four-year degree, Career Voyages expands post-secondary opportunities to include on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs for skilled trades, vocational certificates, and two-year professional degree programs at community colleges that can all lead to promising careers.

With its focus on high-growth industries and high-demand occupations, www.CareerVoyages.gov should be part of the electronic toolbox in every One-Stop Career Center.

Publications and Other Resources

Reading Partner Voice Recognition Software

Workforce Development, Inc. a local One-Stop Career operatorin Rochester, Minnesota promotes various teaching strategies through the Reading Partner software that places strong emphasis on content (vocabulary) important to the learner.  WDI’s current library of content provides contextual information important to new Americans.  Our primary focus is to assist students in learning the English language and navigating within our culture and the workplace.  Existing content areas include: U.S. citizenship, job search, driver’s permit, worker safety, housing rights and responsibilities, entry-level healthcare, being on probation, certified nursing assistance.

Reading Partner is voice recognition software that assists with acquiring English literacy skills in a tutor-like manner. The student wears a set of headphones and works with “e-books” at an individual pace.  While reading levels are adjusted at the instructor’s discretion, it can be set to self-adjust based on student’s progress.  The e-books use clear and simple language, definitions and examples to vocabulary while at the same time presenting opportunities to practice words, read sentences, and questions related to the content.

Participants of the WDI literacy service have seen many positive outcomes.  Along with literacy gains, and successful occupational training it has assisted many individuals in retaining employment.  There is not a web site developed and this is not a commercial product yet.  However, Workforce Development, Inc. will do online demonstrations if anyone is interested in the software.  Anyone interested can contact Rick Roy at Workforce Development, Inc., email: RRoy@wfdi.ws.

Working with Employers: Partners in Difficult Times

Working Ventures, a division of Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), offers the three-day practicum, “Working with Employers: Partners in Difficult Times.”  Join Working Ventures on February 10-12, 2004 and experience the energy and optimism of collaborating with colleagues as you learn how to build effective relationships with employers:

KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS How can we become (and stay) aware of the needs and challenges faced by critical industries in our community?

GET DOWN TO BUSINESS How do we stay true to our mission while operating within the culture, norms and language of our employer partners?

MAKE EMPLOYERS PART OF THE WOODWORK How can we deepen the involvement of employers in the development of our program strategies and operations?

QUALITY COUNTS How do we ensure qualified applicants and excellent customer service for our employers?

For more information please contact: Bill Rolon at (212) 822-2413.  A copy of the registration form may be printed from P/PV’s website at http://www.ppv.org/ppv/working_ventures/practicum_2004_registration_form.pdf

Upcoming Events

• February 10- 12          Working With Employers: Partners in Difficult Times.  San Antonio, TX

• February 20          Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker/Workforce Investment Board Dialogue.  San Antonio, Texas

• April 13-16          MAFO National Farmworker Conference.  San Antonio, Texas

An additional Workforce System-Wide Calendar of Events provided by the Employment and Training Administration, http://www.workforcetools.org/calendar.asp, can also be found on the “Workforce Tools for the Trade,” a USDOL website designed to help workforce development professionals excel.

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program Resources is a technical assistance update distributed monthly by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Office of National Programs, Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs.   It provides announcements and other public information gathered by ETA Regional Office Weekly Reports or shared through the USDOL website and other public access resources.

                  

We welcome your input.  Please let us know how these updates might be improved to better serve your needs.  If you would like to contribute information, post an inquiry, or suggest topics to cover, please contact Gloria Salas-Kos (salas-kos.gloria@dol.gov ).