Unemployed? Potential Federal Money Could be Available

[Resume Writer]

Hi Everyone,

I mentioned the purported programs that follow my comments about a year ago. There will potentially be money available to dislocated (i.e., furloughed pilots) workers in the form of grants.

The really great thing about this program, if approved, would be the ability to manage your own money account instead of some person behind a government desk who has no idea about this industry (or any other). This money is not just for aviation people, but other fields as well.

They also have a tie in for youth workers, in addition to training for affected states (a list is in the last piece of information).

The bill is currently waiting for approval, and it is kind of hard to understand, but let me explain it in simple terms (this is my interpretation of this law; I think states will have the final approval).

• You would be given a certain amount of money (I am thinking it will be about $3000 from what my sources have told me).
• You would then be able to use this money within the private sector for training and education.

You might also be able to use your money for other things, such as career assessments and career services. However, I think the states are really going to control this so their workers in government Workforce Investment offices do not lose their jobs.

If this passes, I have two caveats that people should consider:

• Really check out the credibility of the service provider. Do they have a solid reputation? Beware of fraudulent schemes that I am sure will pop up in relation to this new law.
• Think about your training realistically. Since the aviation industry is so violatile, you may want to consider training in another field. I know many people before were using WIA money for type ratings. That might not be the best use for the money.

Here is the information (I have highlighted in blue the important parts):

Career Advancement Accounts
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Overview
The workforce investment system should recognize and strengthen workers’ ownership of their careers, and provide more flexible resources and services designed to meet their changing needs. Studies have shown that workers make sound decisions about tapping resources to advance their careers when they have good information on available options.


Workers need to be armed with as many choices as possible to gain the right skills and secure the best career opportunities. Furthermore, federal job training dollars should be put directly in the hands of individuals. Therefore, funds appropriated for the following programs should be allocated to states as a single funding stream:
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program
• WIA Dislocated Worker Program
• WIA Youth Program
• Employment Service programs (including Employment Service formula grants, labor market information grants.)


States would use these funds primarily to provide Career Advancement Accounts to individuals in need of employment assistance. Individuals receiving Career Advancement Accounts must use them to pay for expenses directly related to education and training.


This funding also would be used by states to provide basic employment services such as career assessment, workforce information, and job search assistance to job seekers.


States would be required to use a minimum percentage of their state allocation (approximately 75 percent) for Career Advancement Accounts. Administrative costs for states would be similar to the 3 percent cap carried by many Department of Education programs. States would use the remaining funds (up to about 22 percent) to provide basic employment services to job seekers or employers. States and local areas would provide these services through community career centers – including, but not limited to, the existing One-Stop Career Centers -- or through partnerships with the private sector.


With lower administrative costs and the vast majority of funding used to finance the accounts, this proposal means that more individuals would participate in job training and attain new and higher level job skills. In fact, the number of individuals receiving Career Advancement Accounts would be more than triple the number of people receiving job training in the workforce investment system today.


Career Advancement Accounts


Career Advancement Accounts are self-managed accounts that enable current and future workers to gain the skills needed to successfully enter, navigate, and advance in 21st century jobs. The accounts would be available to workers entering the workforce or transitioning between jobs and careers. Incumbent workers in need of new skills could use them to remain employed or to move up the career ladder.


Community Career Centers


Under the Career Advancement Account proposal, the local workforce system presence would be transformed and made more efficient. States and local areas would maintain community career centers – including, but not limited to, the existing One-Stop Career Centers -- that provide basic employment services to job seekers and employers and access to the Career Advancement Accounts, or they could develop partnerships with the private sector to provide these services.


Relationship to Pell Grants


Pell Grants are available to undergraduates who have financial need and meet other requirements for federal Student Aid. Pell Grants are usually a foundation of student aid, to which assistance from other federal and non-federal sources might be added. Career Advancement Accounts are self-managed accounts that complement Pell Grants. They enable current and future workers to gain the skills needed to successfully enter, navigate, and advance in 21st century jobs without having to attend school more than half time.

 

[Resume Writer]

Information Continued...

Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED grants) Selected Regions
BY the U.S. DOL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION


Global competition is typically seen as a national challenge. In reality, the front lines of the battlefield are regional, where companies, workers, researchers, entrepreneurs and governments come together to create competitive advantage. That advantage stems from the ability to transform new ideas and new knowledge into advanced, high quality products or services–in other words, to innovate. And those regions that are successful demonstrate the ability to network innovation assets–people, institutions, capital and infrastructure–to generate growth and prosperity in the region’s economy.


While many regions have made considerable progress in integrating talent and skills development into their larger economic strategies, there are regions that need additional technical and financial assistance. Similarly, economic regions no longer correspond to state, county, local workforce investment area or municipal boundaries.


As part of President Bush’s new Competitiveness Agenda, the Labor Department has competitively selected 13 economic regions from across the country to assist in the networking of their regional assets. Each region will receive approximately $15 million in funding over a three period and will be provided on-going expertise from several of the leading organizations in the field of innovation. The goal in each of these regions is to expand employment and advancement opportunities for American workers and catalyze the creation of high-skill and high-wage jobs in regional economies.


The following regions have been selected for the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative:


Coastal Maine – 11 counties including Augusta, Bangor, & Brunswick


Northeast Pennsylvania – 9 counties including Scranton, Allentown, and Reading


Upstate New York – 9 counties including Rochester and Finger Lakes region
Piedmont Triad North Carolina

– 12 counties including Greensboro & Winston-Salem


Central Michigan – 13 counties including Lansing, Flint, and Saginaw


Western Michigan – 7 counties including Grand Rapids


Florida Panhandle – 16 counties including Tallahassee and Pensacola


Western Alabama & Eastern Mississippi – 17 counties in Ala. including Tuscaloosa and Selma & 19 counties in Miss. including Meridian and Starkville


North Central Indiana – 14 counties including Lafayette


Greater Kansas City – 10 counties in Missouri & 8 counties in Kansas including Topeka


Denver Metro Region – 8 counties including Denver, Boulder, and Ft. Collins


Central & Eastern Montana – 32 counties covering mostly rural areas


California Coast – 13 counties including Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego