Monthly Archives September 2013

Age No Barrier to Employment for KRA Customers: Part 2

September 30, 2013 | No Comments

As originally reported, Cynthia, Verndell, and Rhonda appeared to have little in common: two are single and have no children, and one is married with 3 children. Occupationally, one is finishing up a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, one is dedicated to the Nursing profession, and the other’s passion is Accounting. Lastly, customary gross pay for the ladies ranges from approximately $60-to-$155/day. However, upon getting to know them better, the first two similarities emerge: all reside in South Carolina, and all sought workforce development services through the Waccamaw Region SCWorks One Stop Career Centers Program, operated by KRA Corporation. In addition to all being deemed
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KRA/San Diego P2E Success Story #1

September 30, 2013 | No Comments

It was reported in the September issue of the Monthly Spotlight! that KRA/San Diego Metro Career Centers* had launched a new initiative, the Platform to Employment (P2E) Program. Funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation, Citi Community Development, and the AARP Foundation, P2E was successfully (71% unsubsidized-job placement) piloted in the Southwestern Region of Connecticut by CTWorks**, and then expanded by The Workplace to 10 major cities, including San Diego, where it is administered by the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), the WIB for the Region, and KRA client for the operation of four San Diego Metro Career Centers. Those eligible for P2E are Veterans,
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KRA Supports Community Event for the Homeless

September 30, 2013 | No Comments

Recently, KRA staff members Brittany Brown, Job Developer; Yelva Burley, Job Coach; Shari Cain, Career Agent; Yvette Clark, Lead Job Developer; and Jermietra Carroll, Work Activity Coordinator of the Baltimore City Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program attended the Baltimore Project Homeless Connect event. Organized by the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, the United Way of Central Maryland, and numerous Baltimore-area service providers and non-profit organizations, the free event was open to all, not just those coping with homelessness. In addition to participating themselves, KRA/Baltimore staff promoted the event to their jobseeker-customers and encouraged them to attend. They felt it was important
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

September 27, 2013 | No Comments

This month’s Spotlight! is shining brightly on a new KRA/San Diego Metro Region Career Centers program, Platform to Employment (P2E). In November 2012, the WorkPlace received Wal-Mart Foundation, Citi Community Development, and AARP Foundation funding to implement a national P2E Program in 10 major cities. For San Diego, the fourth city selected, P2E is funded by the San Diego Workforce Partnership, KRA client-partner for the operation of the Career Centers. P2E is an innovative, privately funded response to the crisis of long-term unemployment (LTU). Eligibility includes Veterans under 30 and individuals over 50, who have exhausted their UI benefits. The goals for each participant are to: become champions for their own careers, learn new skills, complete an 8-
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Debate Heats Up as "Living Wage" Bill is Vetoed for D.C.

September 26, 2013 | No Comments

The “Living Wage” bill, (as discussed by KRA Corporation in a previous post) has been the subject of heated debate in the nation’s capital. It was recently defeated when Washington D.C. Mayor, Vincent C. Gray vetoed the bill. In detailing the reason for the veto, Mayor Gray described it as a “job killer”. The subsequent D.C. council vote to try and override the veto failed when only seven of nine Council members voted against the measure. Opponents to the bill—known as the Large Retailer Accountability Act—felt the criteria placed on particular larger corporations was unfair and likely to keep businesses out
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Demand-driven Skills Training Receives Fed's Boost

September 24, 2013 | No Comments

The push for demand-driven skills training continues to make news. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the award of a further $474.5 million grant to a training program initiative that is aimed at boosting opportunities for U.S. workers, as well as bolstering the workforce’s future competitiveness. The latest series of grants is a continuing countrywide attempt to use tertiary education facilities (community colleges and universities) to develop and expand innovative occupational skills training (OST) programs for those unemployed workers affected by foreign trade. These programs, part of the multiyear Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant
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Age No Barrier to Employment for KRA Customers: Part 1

September 23, 2013 | No Comments

Upon meeting Cynthia, Verndell, and Rhonda, they may appear to have little in common: two are single and have no children, and one is married with 3 children. Occupationally, one is finishing up a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, one is dedicated to the Nursing profession, and the other’s passion is Accounting. Also, customary gross earnings for the three women range from $60-to-$155 a day, approximately. However, upon getting to know a little more about them, similarities emerge: all reside in the Waccamaw Region of South Carolina, were in need of workforce development services, and were deemed eligible to enroll in
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Labor and Commerce Stress Joint Effort Importance in Skill Development

September 19, 2013 | No Comments

The need to improve and strengthen effective job-skills training to help U.S. workers be more competitive has been a hot topic for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) of late. A recent post in the Work in Progress (co-authored by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker) discussed a joint office visit to the Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) campus to hear from key employer and training stakeholders about “the importance of skills training as both a workforce development and an economic development imperative.” AACC has helped to coordinate efforts of numerous workforce entities to develop certificate
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Self-Employment Assistance Grant Boost for Dislocated Workers

September 17, 2013 | No Comments

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the award of a two-state grant of almost $2.5 million ($2,335, 270) to be divided between Mississippi and New York for the implementation and enhancement of Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) programs respectively. With the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 expanding funding for the SEA program, Dislocated Workers receive a self-employed allowance, in lieu of normal Unemployment Insurance while creating their own jobs and small businesses. The benefit of the program is that the allowance (which is the same weekly amount as the worker’s regular UI benefits) enables participants
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KRA Supports Baltimore Mayor’s Back-to-School Rally

September 16, 2013 | No Comments

The invitation, sent to Elizabeth Smith, KRA/Baltimore* Operations Manager, read, “Good afternoon Ms. Smith: We would like to thank you and your organization, KRA Corporation, for partnering with Mayor Rawlings-Blake to help students get started on the right track to begin the school year. This year’s rally will be held at War Memorial Plaza, in front of City Hall. Last year, 3,000 students received backpacks, school supplies and valuable resources. Because this year’s rally will be held on a weekend and many families are still facing financial hardships, we expect an even larger turnout. Per your conversation with Marva Williams, Event
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