By Megan Cardiff
January 31, 2011

Over fifty members of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council (WDC) came together for their Annual Winter Meeting January 18-19. Members of the WDC, comprised of workforce development leaders from across the nation, are committed to improving job training programs, increasing the accessibility of programs to citizens with special barriers to employment, and ensuring there is available funding for employment and training programs in their cities. Outgoing WDC President Karen Sitnick, Director of the Baltimore Office of Employment Development, and incoming WDC President Tom Phillips, President and CEO of Capital Workforce Partners, presided over the two-day conference.

John Colbert, Esq. of Capitol Hill Partners outlined the FY 2012 Appropriations outlook for WDC members, indicating that this Congress is the best chance for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization in four congresses. A draft Senate WIA reauthorization bill unveiling is possible in the next month, however cuts in many programs are imminent. Republicans view the continuing resolution, set to expire on March 4, as an opportunity to make budget cuts and are seeking $60 billion in cuts to domestic discretionary programs. The President's February 14 budget will also reflect funding cuts in many programs. Despite the likely cuts in funding, newly-appointed Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH) has a strong background in WIA reauthorization as the former Education and Workforce Committee Chair and the current Committee Chair, John Kline (MN), has already begun talking to new Committee members regarding priorities, with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorizations taking two of the top spots.

WDC heard Congressman Bobby Scott of the House Education and Workforce Committee speak about WIA reauthorization and the importance of focusing on education as a means to provide jobs. "In this global economy, in America the major competitive advantage we have is in education," Scott said. He called for a focus on two-year vocational education as a means to obtain more jobs. Scott reiterated the need for a strong foundation in education to ensure future jobs for youth. He discussed his support of the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which provide early childhood education and development services to almost one million children each year, and the Youth Promise Act, which helps communities facing the greatest youth gang and crime challenges develop a comprehensive response to youth violence through a coordinated prevention and intervention response.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Professions Deputy Associate Administrator Diana Espinosa discussed the continued growth expected in health care sector employment, projected to increase 20 percent by 2018. She discussed the Affordable Care Act, which provides direct funding used to support initiatives to expand the number of primary care dollars and has funding to produce more physician assistants and advanced practice nurses jobs.

The WDC, along with the Business Council, held a Special Breakfast Session, It's All About Jobs!, for the mayors to hear about the key role a strong workforce development system plays in making cities thrive. Conference of Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz opened the session, while Steve Corona, President and CEO of Job Works, moderated it. The session focused on understanding what mayors across the U.S. did in their cities in 2010 and what they hope to accomplish in 2011 in terms of job and employment growth. The information was captured and shared using a "game show" approach through an audience participation response system to a series of questions, which were answered by various mayors. During the interactive discussion, Pembroke Pines (FL) Mayor Frank Ortis and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland discussed the first jobs they held for pay as well as the Summer Youth Programs they ran in their cities in 2010, as well as what they plan to do this summer for youth programs. Participants in the session also heard from Hartford (CT) Mayor Pedro Segarra and Harrisburg (PA) Mayor Linda Thompson about Summer Youth programs and initiatives they are taking to increase participation. Louisville (KY) Mayor Greg Fischer outlined what he hopes to accomplish in Louisville in 2011 with respect to jobs, job development and skilled workers.

The WDC also heard from congressional staffer David John, Senior Education Policy Advisor for the Senate HELP Committee, on the Workforce Outlook for the 112th Congress. The WDC also heard presentations from Linda Harris, Director of Youth Policy at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) on the youth drop-out crisis and the importance of finding out why individuals drop-out; as well as WDC member and KentuckianaWorks Executive Director Michael Gritton and Greater Louisville Building and Construction Trades Council Business Manager Joseph Wise on the benefits of public-private partnerships in the Louisville Construction Pipeline Project.