Highlights of the March 26, 2024, County Commission Meeting
March 26, 2024
The commission approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the consolidation of North Central Florida CareerSource offices, a move that came at the request of the state of Florida.
CareerSource Florida previously recommended to the governor’s office that several workforce areas be consolidated to minimize service duplication, improve consistency, and maximize resources to enhance outcomes for businesses and individuals. As a result, districts 7 and 9 were recommended for consolidation. The proposed consolidation creates a new six-county local workforce development area (LWDA) that comprises Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union counties.
Under the MOU, the new board will consist of one elected commissioner from each county, with Alachua County having two voting members. Alachua County’s members can designate their voting power to another member or an alternate if one is absent. The other counties will also be allowed to appoint alternate voting members in their absence.
The new voting structure allows Alachua County to receive five (50%) out of 10 votes on the board, representing 66% of the total population of the six counties. Columbia County represents the second largest population, at 16%. Liability will also be split 50-50 between Alachua County and the others. The proposal ensures that Alachua County must have buy-in from at least one other county before moving forward on decisions and that it holds veto power.
Alachua County will serve as the administrative entity, fiscal agent, and equal opportunity officer. The group’s chief executive officer will report to the new board but will be an employee of Alachua County.
The agreement will be sent to the other five counties for review and approval. If passed, the effective date of the interlocal agreement is July 1, 2024.
DEO Announces the First $40 Million in Loans to Florida Small Businesses Through the State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0
May 22, 2023
Last month, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced that more than $40 million in loans to 14 small businesses had already been obligated through the Florida State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0, which stimulated more than $137 million in private capital lending. This new capital for small businesses and startups has led to more than 340 jobs for unemployed Floridians.
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to work urgently to deliver small business and job creation resources into the hands of small businesses, communities, and economic development partners,” said DEO Acting Secretary Meredith Ivey. “For many of Florida’s nearly 550,000 small businesses—the employers of more than 5.1 million Floridians—programs like SSBCI 2.0 can help employers expand operations and jobs.”
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Local Workforce Plan Two-Year Modification
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024 | Local Workforce Development Area 09
WIOA requires each local workforce development board (LWDB), in partnership with the appropriate chief local elected official(s), to develop and submit a comprehensive four-year local plan to the state. Additionally, local plans must be modified at the end of the first two-year period of the four-year local plan to reflect changes in labor market and economic conditions and other factors affecting the implementation of the local plan. Federal regulations require states and LWDBs to regularly revisit and recalibrate state plan strategies in response to changing economic conditions and workforce needs of the state (20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 676.135). WIOA emphasizes the importance of collaboration and transparency in the development and submission of local plans. LWDBs provide leadership, and should seek broad stakeholder involvement, in the development of their local plan. Chief local elected officials, LWDB members, core program partners, mandatory one-stop career center partners, and local economic development entities are an integral part of the planning process. WIOA encourages an enhanced, integrated system by including core programs in its planning and performance requirements. Affected entities and the public must have an opportunity to provide input in the development of the plan. LWDBs must make the plan available electronically and in open meetings to ensure transparency to the public.
LWDB 09, CareerSource North Central Florida, is providing this draft of the Two Year Modification to the Four Year Local WIOA Plan for public and stakeholder review, Please provide any public comments on this draft, which will be included in the plan, to Phyllis Marty at [email protected] by September 16th, 2022.
Press Releases/News
Florida Workforce Development Association – Request for Qualifications
eImpact’s Press Release: A New Tool For Workers Undergoing Career Change (August 11, 2022)
News Release: Bureau of Labor Statistics – The Employment Situation — July 2022
Press Release: Virtual hiring event set for UF Veterinary Hospitals in Alachua, Marion counties (July 27, 2022)
USDOL BLS All States Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Press Release – June 2022
University of Florida: Survey Research Center – Florida Consumer Sentiment Index (June 28, 2022)
Press Release: Marine industries’ workforce meeting rescheduled for April 20 (March 30, 2022)
Press Release: Community Health Worker and Mentorship Program with CareerSource North Central Florida (March 18, 2022)