Here are the critical amendments to support in the Senate budget.  Please call your state Senator today and ask him or her to support important workforce amendments listed below.

Amendments will be enacted as part of consolidated amendments by area; most of ours are in economic development and education.

JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION

• ECO 254- Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF);sponsored by Senators Candaras and Donnelly: transfers $10 million from the consolidated budget surplus to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund.
• ECO 260- WCTF- Regional Centers of Excellence; sponsored by Senators Wolf, Donnelly and Candaras: transfers $10 million from the consolidated budget surplus to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund using the Governor’s language establishing Regional Centers of Excellence.
• EDU 383- WCTF- Rapid Response Workforce Development Grants for Community Colleges; Senators Donnelly, Candaras, Wolf, Knapik, DiDomenico, and Spilka: Adapts Senate language for the new Rapid Response incentive program for the community colleges to strengthen the partnerships to operate like the WCTF and increases the Fund from $3 million to $6 million.
• EDU 357- Educational Rewards Grant Program; Senator Eldridge to fund the Ed Rewards Grant Program at $1.5 million.

CAREER CENTERS

• ECO 279- One Stop Career Centers; Senators Wolf, Donnelly, Knapik, Rodrigues, Spilka and Eldridge to increase funding for career centers from $4.4 million to $5.5 million.
• ECO 294- Employment Services Programs; sponsored by Senator Keenan: increases funding for the ESP program line item 4401-1000 from $3.9 million to $8.1 million.

YOUTH JOBS

• ECO 239- Youth At Risk Summer Jobs; Senator McGee: to increase funding from $3 million to $9 million.
• ECO 289- Summer Jobs for At-Risk Youth; Senators Chang-Diaz and Donnelly to increase funding from $3 million to $12 million.
• ECO 218- Summer Jobs Program for At-Risk Youth; Senator Hart to increase funding from $3 million to $12 million.
• EDU 322- School to Career Connecting Activities; Senator McGee to increase funding from $2.7 million to $3.2 million.
• EDU 365- School to Career Connecting Activities; Senators DiDomenico and Chang-Diaz to increase funding from $2.7 million to $3.2 million.
• EPS 399- Shannon Grants; Senators Donoghue and Finegold to increase funding for Shannon grants from $6 million to $7 million.

Workforce Development In the News

• Spotlight Webcast with Michael Gerson (Washington Post Op-Ed columnist) on the federal budget deficit and discretionary spending
• Senate FY13 budget update (Skills2Compete MA Blog, May 20, 2012)
• Massachusetts’ jobs numbers good, but labor pool is stagnant (Boston Business Journal, May 18, 2012)
• Agencies focus on helping unemployed (Worcester Telegram-Gazette, May 15, 2012)
• House Jobs Bill Details (Skills2Compete MA Blog, May 15, 2012)
• Mass. House Leaders Tie Jobs Bill To Innovation Economy (90.9 WBUR, May 14, 2012)

Tools and Resources

• Sector Skills Academy: Apply now for a unique leadership development and training opportunity for leaders of workforce partnerships and sectoral strategies. Deadline is May 25.
• New American Integration Initiative Americorps Position: Help strengthen the work of community based organizations that serve refugees and immigrants.  Priority application deadline May 29, 2012.
• Metro Boston SCILS (Skilled Careers in Life Sciences) Initiative website launches.
• National College Transition Network seeks presenters for its fall conference in RI.  Application deadline is June 11.
• Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: Offers up to 12 months of training for unemployed veterans (program launches July 1)

Funding Opportunities

• Veterans Workforce Investment Program – U.S. DOL (due June 15, 2012)
• Learn at Work Planning Grant RFP – MA Commonwealth Corporation (due June 15–extended deadline!)

Upcoming Events

• May 24, 2012: Connecting to Jobs: Local Strategies and Policy Approaches to Employ Black Men (CLASP)
• May 24-25, 2012: National Association for Workforce Improvement Conference (New England Board of Higher Education; register by May 18)
• May 30, 2012: Boston City Council Hearing on For-Profit Schools (Crittenton Women’s Union)
• June 26, 2012: Skills Gap: Supply and Demand in the Metro South/West Economy (Commonwealth Corporation)
• June 2012: American Job Fair Month–See resources here! (U.S. DOL)

In the meantime, here’s the quick update on how we did in the Senate FY13 budget, before amendments.

•    7003-0803 – One Stop Career Centers: $4,494,467

•    7003-0803 – Employment Services Program: $3,904,506
•    7035-0002 – ABE- ESOL: $30,707,455
•    7002-0012 – YouthWorks youth jobs: $3,000,000
•    7027-0019 – School to Career Connecting Activities: $2,750,000
•    8100-0111 – Shannon Anti-Gang Violence Program: $6,000,000

Many thanks to Senate leaders and members for their support!

We are continuing to work to get the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund into the budget or an outside section through amendments.  We are also seeking increases for career centers, school-to-career connecting activities, and the employment services program.  Amendment numbers and details forthcoming.

Please continue to encourage local participants from WCTF funded training partnerships to weigh in with their Senators about the impact of these partnerships.  Thanks for your continued support!

The bill’s provisions help spur innovation and job growth and invest in training programs, like those supported by the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, that address the skills gap by supporting employers so they can continue to partner with community colleges, voc tech schools, career centers and workforce boards to train unemployed people.  The Competitiveness Trust Fund identifies critical job vacancies and creates training pipelines to ensure our state has the skilled workforce to grow our economy.

The bill also contains the major elements of the Middle-Skills Solutions Act (S2206, H2713), which had the support of 56 co-sponsors in the House and Senate, including:

• $10M in funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund from the consolidated budget surplus for the purpose of filling the middle-skill gap in Massachusetts
• Allows for WCTF funding to support Regional Centers of Excellence aligned with the state’s economic development agenda
• Provides for the regular review of local and regional labor market data to development regional workforce development plans
• Provides for baseline report on middle-skill training completion and credential attainment rates in the Commonwealth

Read the WBUR/State House News Service report on the Jobs bill.

Download the full text of the House Jobs bill.

Download the highlights of the Jobs bill.

Download a section by section summary of the Jobs bill.

A summary of the sections relevant to middle-skill training is copied below.

SECTION 78.

This section would amend section 7 of chapter 23H to require that the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board undertake an annual review of local and regional labor market information to develop regional workforce development plans, in consultation with EOLWD, EOE, and EOHED.

SECTION 79.

This section would amend section 2WWW of chapter 29 to designate a portion of the WCTF grant program to address the so called, “middle skills gap”. The grants would focus on building relationships and partnerships in geographic clusters of educational institutions, local employers, industry partners, and local workforce investment boards  to create multiple and seamless pathways to employment through enhanced coordination of existing institutions and resources and the development.  It would also allow grants be given to establish regional centers of excellence that are aligned with the state’s economic development agenda. It would further establish a subcommittee to help design the grant sub-program

SECTION 80.

This section would amend the same section of chapter 29 to require that commonwealth corporation develop performance measures and indicators to evaluate grant recipients and that each grant recipient submit an annual report.

SECTION 81.

This section would amend the same section of chapter 29 to require that the director of workforce development assess the effectiveness of the grant program, considering parallel workforce development grant programs, and encourage coordination of existing workforce development initiatives.

SECTION 82.

This section would amend the same section of chapter 29 to include a reference to the Gaming Economic Development fund under a list of eligible funds that the WCTF may receive.

SECTION 83. 

This section would provide $10M in net consolidated surplus funding for the WCTF in fiscal year 2012.

SECTION 84.

This section would require that Commonwealth Corporation file a report on existing workforce development programs by Dec. 31, 2012, which would establish baseline data for middle skills training completion and credential attainment rates, coordinating its report with existing efforts within the department of education and labor and workforce development.

Workforce Development In the News

• 2012 Grads Enter Improving Job Market (Boston.com, May 13, 2012)
• Roxbury Community College gets Financial Aid, Three Months Late (Boston Globe, May 12, 2012)
• In Massachusetts, Manufacturing Still Matters (Boston Magazine, May 9, 2012)
• Taking a Pass on the Future (Boston Globe, May 7, 2012)
• Commentary: The Perfectly Dismal Storm: The Struggles of Young Men in the United States (Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, May 7, 2012)
• OpEd: New Study highlights career pathways for green jobs (Daniel Moon and Dan Costello, Brookline TAB, April 24, 2012)

Tools and Resources

• Sector Skills Academy: Apply now for a unique leadership development and training opportunity for leaders of workforce partnerships and sectoral strategies. Deadline is May 25.
• Courses to Employment Toolkit: Resources for non-profit/community college partnerships (Aspen Institute, Workforce Strategies Initiative)
• An Introduction to Soft Skills: Skills to Pay the Bills (Webinar/Presentation Slides, U.S. DOL, May 2012)

Funding Opportunities

• Susan Harwood Training Grant Program – U.S. Department of Labor OSHA (due May 17, 2012)
• Learn at Work Planning Grant RFP – MA Commonwealth Corporation (due June 15–extended deadline!  Bidders’ Webinar is May 15 at 10 am)

Upcoming Events

• May 15, 2012: The Long View: Strategies for Supporting the Retention and Advancement of Construction Workers and Apprentices (Aspen Institute)
• May 24, 2012: Connecting to Jobs: Local Strategies and Policy Approaches to Employ Black Men (CLASP)
• May 24-25, 2012: National Association for Workforce Improvement Conference (New England Board of Higher Education; register by May 18)
• May 30, 2012: Boston City Council Hearing on For-Profit Schools (Crittenton Women’s Union)
• June 26, 2012: Skills Gap: Supply and Demand in the Metro South/West Economy (Commonwealth Corporation)
• June 2012: American Job Fair Month–See resources here! (U.S. DOL)

Action Alerts–FY2013 Budget

• Thanks to everyone who made calls on behalf of workforce amendments to the House budget.  The final House budget was released last week, and it included many of our priorities.  Read more in last week’s FY2013 House Budget post:
• Now it’s on to the Senate.  Stay tuned for more information.  One of our major priorities in the Senate budget will be the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, which did not make it into the House budget.

Workforce Development In the News

• Certificate programs increasing in popularity: For those short on time and funds, certificate programs offer an alternative way to train for better paying careers  (Boston Globe, May 6, 2012)

• Commentary: A Faster Way to Solve the Jobs Dilemma (Workforce Strategy Center Blog, May 2, 2012)
• Commentary: When a Job Isn’t Enough: A Safety Net for the Working Poor (Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, April 30, 2012)

Research and Reports

• Courses to Employment: Partnering to Create Paths to Education and Careers (Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative, May 2012)
• Better Care, Better Careers: The Jobs to Careers Strategy for Growing a Skilled Health Care Workforce (Jobs for the Future, April 2012)
• Reclaiming the American Dream: Community Colleges and the Nation’s Future (A Report From the
  21st-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, April 2012)
• The Credential Differential: The Public Return to Increasing Postsecondary Credential Attainment (CLASP, April 2012)

Tools and Resources

• CORI Reform: New laws went into effect on May 4.  Read more about the new requirements and access CORI resources.
• Better Care Through Better Jobs: Improving Training And Employment For Direct-Care Workers (Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative, Webcast, May 3, 2012)
• House Moves Forward with Workforce Reauthorization Bills; New CLASP Analyses (Center for Law and Social Policy, May 1, 2012)
• CareerSTAT: A Guide to Making the Case for Investing in the Frontline Hospital Workforce (National Fund for Workforce Solutions, April 2012)
• Career Pathways Technical Assistance Resources (U.S. DOL, April 2012)
• Online Work Readiness Tool Assessment for TANF Participants (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, April 2012)

Funding Opportunities

• Nursing Education Redesign Grant Program – MA Department of Higher Education (due May 11, 2012)
• Susan Harwood Training Grant Program – U.S. Department of Labor OSHA (due May 17, 2012)
• Learn at Work Planning Grant RFP – MA Commonwealth Corporation (due June 1)

Upcoming Events

• May 9, 2012: The ABC’s of College Navigation: Supporting Attainment of Degrees and Credentials (National Network of Sector Partners)
• May 9 and 23: Clinics for Low-Income Boston Residents on CORI reforms and records sealing (Greater Boston Legal Services)
• May 14, 2012: Sharing Skills-Building Connections Conference (sponsored by Commonwealth Workforce Coalition) Registration ends soon!
• May 15, 2012: The Long View: Strategies for Supporting the Retention and Advancement of Construction Workers and Apprentices (Aspen Institute)
• May 24, 2012: Connecting to Jobs: Local Strategies and Policy Approaches to Employ Black Men (CLASP)
• June 2012: American Job Fair Month–See resources here! (U.S. DOL)

Here are the updates on how we did in the House budget, where we did win some increases:

Advocates worked hard to increase resources for youth jobs and workforce training in the House budget process.  Here are House final numbers~ now on to the Senate!
•    7003-0803 – One Stop Career Centers: $4,752,000
•    7035-0002 – ABE- ESOL: $29,923,112
•    7002-0012 – YouthWorks youth jobs: $8,609,158
•    7027-0019 – School to Career Connecting Activities: $2,700,000
•    8100-0111 – Shannon Anti-Gang Violence Program: $5,500,000
•    4401-1000 – Employment Services Program: $8,109,035
•    Outside Section 88 – Community College Workforce Development Grant Fund- $12 million per year from Gaming License Fees
Many thanks to House leaders and members for their support !
While the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund was not specified in the House budget we still have a chance to advocate for it in the Senate budget and in the proposed Jobs Bill.

Please encourage local participants from WCTF funded training partnerships to weigh in with their Senators about the impact of these partnerships.

Action Alerts–FY2013 Budget

• Calls are needed to support Amendment 826 (filed by Rep. Garballey) to recapitalize the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund at $10 million.
• Calls are also needed for the following set of amendments related to workforce training:
  • Amendments 325 would level fund One Stop Career Centers (7003-0803)
  • Amendments 404 would restore and increase YouthWorks Youth Jobs Program　(7002-0012)
  • Amendments 447 to restore and increase School-to-Career Connecting Activities (7027-0019)
  • Amendments 23 to restore the Shannon Anti Violence grant program (8100-0111)
  • Amendment 856 to restore the Education Rewards Grant Program (7002-1084)
  • Amendment 499 to maintain funding levels for Adult Basic Education.

Workforce Development In the News

• Recycling Industry Poised for Hiring Workers Already in Short Supply, study reports (Boston Globe, April 21, 2012)
• All is not fair in Boston hotels (Boston Globe, April 21, 2012)
• As Workers Age, Oil Industry Braces for Skills Gap (WBUR and NPR, April 20, 2012)
• US Department of Labor announces opportunity for states to develop innovative demonstrations of re-employment strategies (US DOL press release, April 19, 2012)
• Are Massachusetts Schools Preparing Students for the Workplace? (AIM Business Insider, April 19, 2012)
• Navigator helps plot college path (Boston Herald, April 16, 2012)

Research and Reports

• A Solid Foundation: Key Capacities of Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (Aspen Institute, April 2012)
• House Ways and Means Budget Monitor (Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center)

Tools and Resources

• Andy Van Kleunen, Executive Director of the National Skills Coalition, testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee on WIA Reauthorization Bills.  Read his testimony or watch the webcast.

Funding Opportunities

• Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program – U.S. Department of Labor (due April 28, 2012)
• U.S. Department of Labor: Serving Female Ex-Offenders through employment/training (due May 4, 2012)
• Nursing Education Redesign Grant Program – MA Department of Higher Education (due May 11, 2012)
• Susan Harwood Training Grant Program – U.S. Department of Labor OSHA (due May 17, 2012)
• Learn at Work Planning Grant RFP – MA Commonwealth Corporation (due June 1)

Upcoming Events

• April 26, 2012: Webinar: The Credential Differential: The Public Return to Increasing Postsecondary Credential Attainment (CLASP)
• April 26, 2012: Audio Update: State Legislators’ Roundtable (National Skills Coalition)
• May 1, 2012: Disrupting the Poverty Cycle: Emerging Practices to Achieve Economic Mobility (sponsored by Crittenton Women’s Union)
• May 3, 2012: Tapping Mature Talent: Policies for a 21st Century Workforce (sponsored by Council on Adult and Experiential Learning)
• May 3, 2012: Better Care through Better Jobs: Improving Training and Employment for Direct Care Workers (Aspen Institute)
• May 14, 2012: Sharing Skills-Building Connections Conference (sponsored by Commonwealth Workforce Coalition) Registration ends soon!

We need your help to consolidate support for important workforce amendments and make sure important programs and funding for workforce training, youth jobs and adult basic education make it into the FY2013 state budget.

Please call your state Representative today to support these important amendments:

Amendment 826, filed by Representative Sean Garballey, would provide $10 million to re-capitalize the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (7002-1074). This funding leverages private investment from employers, strengthens our workforce and creates jobs. Originally funded in the Jobs Bill of 2006 but now without any resources, the WCTF developed 34 training partnerships across the state that trained over 7,000 people.

Your calls can help ensure that an effective economic development program survives and that an additional 1,500 workers have the skills they need to support their families.

Amendment 325, filed by Representative Cheryl Coakley-Rivera supports One Stop Career Centers and moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 7003-0803, by striking out the figures “$4,480,122″ and inserting in place thereof the figures “$4,752,323″.

Amendment 404, filed by Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, supports Summer Jobs Program for At-Risk Youth and moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 2 by inserting after item 7002-0010 the following item: “7002-0012 For a youth-at-risk program that funds may be expended for the development and implementation of a year-round employment program for at-risk youth as well as existing year-round employment programs; and provided further, that $500,000 of these funds shall be matched by private organizations, and provided further, that funds shall be available for expenditure through September 1, 2013; prior appropriation continued ……..$12,000,000″

Amendment 447, filed by Representative Carlos Henriquez, supports School to Career Connecting Activities and moves that the bill be amended in Section 2, by adding line item 7027-0019: that public funds shall assume the costs of connecting schools and businesses to ensure that students serve productively on the job…………………… $5,000,000

Amendment 856, filed by Representative Linda Dorcena-Forry, supports the Education Rewards Grant Program Fund and moves to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting after item 7002-0017 the following item: “7002-1084 For the Education Rewards Grant Program Fund…………………$1,500,000″

Amendment 499, filed by Representative David Nangle, increases Adult Basic Education Funding and moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 7035-0002, by striking out the figure “29,173,112″ and inserting in place thereof the figure “$30,707,455″.

Amendment 23, filed by Representative Carlos Henriquez, supports increased funding for Shannon Grants and moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 8100-0101, by striking out the figures “2,000,000″ and inserting in place thereof the figures “8,000,000.”

There are 2 main asks to make of your legislators now:

1. Ask them to co-sponsor budget amendments listed above, if they haven’t already.
2. Ask them to attend the Caucus Meetings on these budget amendments with House leadership to fight for these amendments which are held April 24-26 during the budget debate week.

By supporting these amendments you will help us build a stronger workforce, stronger communities and a more vibrant economy.  Please make your call today.  Remember–budget caucuses start on Monday.

Want more information on the budget?

• List of all House budget amendments/sponsors and budget actions.
• Mass Budget and Policy Center’s Budget Monitor

Action Alerts–FY2013 Budget

• Calls are needed to support Amendment 826 (filed by Rep. Garballey) to recapitalize the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund at $10 million.
• Calls are also needed for the following set of amendments related to workforce training.  More detail on these amendments will be forthcoming in a blog post within the next day:
  • Amendments 325, 627 and 807 would level fund One Stop Career Centers (7003-0803)
  • Amendments 404, 339 and 866 would restore and increase YouthWorks Youth Jobs Program　(7002-0012)
  • Amendments 447 and 366 to restore and increase School-to-Career Connecting Activities (7027-0019)
  • Amendments 23 and 775 to restore the Shannon Anti Violence grant program (8100-0111)
  • Amendment 856 to restore the Education Rewards Grant Program (7002-1084)
• Calls needed to support Amendments 499 and 234 to maintain funding levels for Adult Basic Education.  Read the MCAE action alert for more details.

Workforce Development In the News

• Navigator helps plot college path (Boston Herald, April 16, 2012)
• State seeks input on manufacturing challenges (AIM Business Insider Blog, April 13, 2012)
• Getting Americans Back to Work (OpEd by Representative John F. Tierney, Boston Globe, April 10, 2012)
• A Rockier Pathway to Work (NY Times editorial, April 9, 2012)

Research and Reports

• House Ways and Means Budget Monitor (Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center)

Tools and Resources

• Fact Sheet: Criteria for evaluating proposals to restructure federal workforce programs (CLASP, April 2012)
• Healthcare Virtual Career Network–Online portal for careers in healthcare (U.S. DOL-ETA, April 2012)

Funding Opportunities

• Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program – U.S. Department of Labor (due April 28, 2012)
• U.S. Department of Labor: Serving Female Ex-Offenders through employment/training (due May 4, 2012)
• Nursing Education Redesign Grant Program – MA Department of Higher Education (due May 11, 2012)
• Susan Harwood Training Grant Program – U.S. Department of Labor OSHA (due May 17, 2012)
• Learn at Work Planning Grant RFP – MA Commonwealth Corporation (due June 1)

Upcoming Events

• April 18, 2012: Free Webcast: Key Financial Steps for College Seniors and Young Workers (U.S. Department of Labor) **NEW
• April 18, 2012: Essentials of Employer Relations (Commonwealth Workforce Coalition)
• April 26, 2012: Webinar: The Credential Differential: The Public Return to Increasing Postsecondary Credential Attainment (CLASP) **NEW
• April 26, 2012: Audio Update: State Legislators’ Roundtable (National Skills Coalition)
• May 1, 2012: Disrupting the Poverty Cycle: Emerging Practices to Achieve Economic Mobility (sponsored by Crittenton Women’s Union)
• May 3, 2012: Tapping Mature Talent: Policies for a 21st Century Workforce (sponsored by Council on Adult and Experiential Learning)  **NEW
• May 3, 2012: Better Care through Better Jobs: Improving Training and Employment for Direct Care Workers (Aspen Institute) **NEW
• May 14, 2012: Sharing Skills-Building Connections Conference (sponsored by Commonwealth Workforce Coalition) Registration now open!  Early bird registration deadline is April 13.