November 3, 2009 Update

Seeking Solutions? WWW.WORKFORCE3ONE.ORG Now Has Nearly 250 New Ones Across All Sectors; Organized by Curriculum, Course Material, Competency Models, Career Ladders

Since 2008, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has disseminated hundreds of innovative workforce solutions developed under the Community-Based Job Training Grants and High Growth Job Training Initiative.

Recently, nearly 250 new grant solutions were uploaded to the Workforce3 One Web site. They relate to the advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, construction, energy, engineering, forestry, health care, non-sector specific industries, and transportation industries. These new solutions can be downloaded for free and include curriculum and course materials, outreach information, competency models, career ladders, program management implementation tools, and reports and databases.

ETA invites you replicate or tailor these solutions to address current workforce challenges, as well as support Recovery Act efforts that may be underway in your local and regional areas.  To search and download solutions, please visit http://wfsolutions.workforce3one.org/.

A Robust Agora for Registered Apprenticeship

Since its launch in March 2009, the Registered Apprenticeship Community of Practice (CoP) on Worforce3 One has provided a robust and interactive space for Registered Apprenticeship stakeholders to learn from one another, share successful approaches and models, and improve and advance their Registered Apprenticeship efforts and activities.  Now, the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Office of Apprenticeship (OA) is pleased to announce exciting new changes to the CoP.  In October, OA launched a revamped version of the CoP that includes a dramatic new design, improved functionality and navigation, enhanced opportunities for interaction, and fresh and timely content.

The redesigned Community now offers the following new features:

• E-lert capability to provide members with daily updates about new CoP content;
• An RSS feed to provide members with immediate news and image gallery updates;
• A live chat feature that allows members to discuss ideas, challenges, and solutions with their colleagues and with experts across the country…anytime, on-demand;
• New resources related to "hot topics" such as green jobs and Recovery Act activities;
• Reorganized menus and quick searches to help members find more targeted resources, faster, and in a multitude of ways;
• Targeted Community space for stakeholder groups such as apprentices and program sponsors;
• Enhanced industry-specific tools and resources in sectors such as aerospace, geospatial technology, and healthcare; and
• A wide array of fresh content, including videos, tutorials, marketing and outreach materials, and promising practices.