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Dear Friends,
We are very pleased to provide you with the latest issue of The WorkPlace Mobilizer, a newsletter of workforce development highlights from The WorkPlace, Inc. Our hope is to keep you informed of needs, trends, and progress toward our goals.
Joseph M. Carbone, President and Chief Executive Officer, The WorkPlace, Inc. Southwestern Connecticut's Workforce Development Board
Download Printable Version | Read online
Bridgeport Housing residents fill community service requirements, find guidance on Coach
Bridgeport resident and jobseeker Keyona Dennis didn’t have a resume or know how to make one. But a new initiative by the Bridgeport Housing Authority (BHA) has solved her problem. Dennis found help aboard the CTWorks Career Coach, a mobile career-classroom.
“I really liked it. I didn’t know how to get started but she helped me,” said Dennis, referring to
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| Jobseeker Keyona Dennis gets resume assistance from Workforce Development Specialist Marisol Rivera. | While on the Coach during its recent visit to the Greene Homes, Dennis not only received resume assistance, she got a potential job lead.
Owner of BG’s Home Care Services, William Porter was on his way to the unemployment office to post a job opening, when he spotted the Coach and decided to stop and speak to the staff for links to potential employees.
He found Dennis.
“I’m very excited,” said Dennis.
Since October 2004, the Bridgeport Housing Authority has worked with The WorkPlace, Inc. to make the Coach available for its residents. In addition to career development, residents can use time on the Coach to meet government-mandated community service requirements.
“HUD mandates that residents who report zero income must complete eight hours of community service a month in order to maintain housing,” said Marina Village Site Manager Robbie Dunn.
“The Coach has been very beneficial,” said BHA Job Developer Peggy Jean. “We have a lot of residents who look forward to Career Coach services each and every month.
The Coach visits P.T. Barnum Apartments, Charles F. Greene Homes, Trumbull Gardens, and Marina Village once a month. Jean works closely with BHA site managers to schedule the coach and recruit residents.
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| The CTWorks Career Coach outside the Charles F. Greene Homes in Bridgeport. | Dunn, whose recruitment efforts reach nearly 400 residents, says that the challenge is overcoming some residents’ opinions that employment will exclude them from housing benefits.
Many are not aware of the Income Exclusion benefit that allows newly employed residents to live rent-free for the first year after employment, and then bases their rent on 50% of their income for the second year.
“The Career Coach is a great addition to our existing services,” said Jean. “It’s really helpful for the residents who cannot travel to the CTWorks Career Center downtown.”
The Coach is scheduled to visit Marina Village for the first time on August 22, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 100 residents have registered for the session.
For more information, contact Joyce Barcley at (203) 610-8520.
WorkPlace selected to help older workers
 Connecticut’s workforce investment boards, led by The WorkPlace, were selected to manage a program that will serve low-income workers age 55 and older.
The Senior Community Employment Program (SCSEP)helps subsidize part-time employment and training in community service positions so that older workers can move to unsubsidized, private sector jobs.
SCSEP is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department selected 18 grantees nationally through a competitive process.
In Connecticut, The WorkPlace was awarded a grant of $1.5 million to serve older workers in Fairfield, Middlesex, Litchfield and New Haven counties. The other four counties will be served by Easter Seals, an established SCSEP provider.
The award is for the first year of a three-year contract.
The WorkPlace, Inc. is one of six new national SCSEP providers. For more information on SCSEP contact Adrienne Parkmond at (203) 610-8506.
New curriculum and training initiative boosts insurance and financial services industry
Connecticut’s insurance and financial services industry will get a boost from a federal grant that targets training for key occupations to ensure that supply meets demand.
The President’s High-Growth Job Training Initiative (USDOL) awarded $2.7 million to a Connecticut partnership that will create “IFS University”, developing a curriculum and training model for the Insurance and Financial Services industry over the next three years.
The Insurance and Financial Services industry is a primary economic driver throughout the state, with 143,000 jobs representing 8% of Connecticut’s labor market.
The industry has identified critical occupations - financial managers, analysts, accountants, auditors, financial sales agents, brokers, and actuaries – which are projected to grow and also to require ongoing skill enhancement.
“The IFS University” will be a model of innovation based upon a statewide partnership which includes the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Community College system, and the Insurance and Financial Services Cluster, representing CEOs of 30 corporations. The WorkPlace, Inc. will serve as administrator and fiduciary for the project.
“IFS University” focuses workforce investment on building a strong base in the financial services and insurance sector, ultimately making Connecticut a more desirable destination for companies in this industry. For more information on IFSU, contact Adrienne Parkmond at (203) 610-8506.
The President's Report by Joe Carbone
Our 2006 Community Audit & Needs Assessment, the key input to The WorkPlace’s strategic planning process has just been completed. This analysis of the region’s workforce and economic needs and opportunities is available on our website, www.workplace.org.
Your comments and suggestions on priorities and solutions are welcome, particularly in the next few months as we develop strategies. Please direct your comments to our Director of Marketing, Communications & Planning at jshute@workplace.org.
Special thanks to our Planning Committee members, to our consultant Holt, Wexler & Farnam LLP, and to the many community members who participated in this research.
 
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