Announcement

The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Inc. has completed an analysis of the Peninsula's work force development and an action plan that identifies private-sector needs and job opportunities, the group said. The report concludes that trainers/educators and employers have not communicated well enough on how they can help each other.

The industries expected to grow most include health services; food, beverage and hospitality services; human services; construction and maintenance; information technology and transportation services, the report said.

"When I first heard about the layoffs, I figured I might not be affected," said Diana Forslund, one of the 65 Agrium employees who lost their jobs in June. "But I prepared myself just in case."

What she decided to do was return to school using a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Act to study to be a radiological technologist. Forslund said she learned about the grant when she met with state labor counselors at the Kenai Job Center.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10

(Juneau) - Governor Frank H. Murkowski has directed that the attached briefing paper be distributed to foster a better understanding of the administration's human resources enterprise integration project. This project will consolidate and integrate human resources managers and personnel functions under a single agency, the Division of Personnel within the Department of Administration.

"We appreciate the cooperation and hard work of our human resource managers in implementing this new system," said Murkowski." I would also like to recognize the professional conduct of all of those involved with these changes. Alaska is well served with public employees such as these."

A Ketchikan-based organization that helps struggling commercial fishermen obtain training for work in the maritime industry may be in dire straits due to decreased federal funding.

SEALink Inc. received $500,000 in federal Workforce Investment Act funds this year for its low-income adult dislocated worker program, compared with $1.78 million last year, said Ralph Mirsky, the group's executive director.

Here are the results of the DPA Food Stamp Accuracy Rate survey. The response from DPA staff was amazing and the suggestions are now being used to formulate strategies to lower the error rate.

This survey document has answers organized by question but otherwise it is a straightforward list of responses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer the survey.

The Governor's Office announced yesterday, September 3, 2003 that all Human Resources (HR) functions (personnel, payroll, classification, labor relations, WorkPlace Alaska etc.) within State Government will be integrated within the Department of Administration.

This essentially means that all current Human Resources staff within the Department of Health and Social Services will be transferred to the Department of Administration and integrated with staff from all other departments. Transfers of staff and functions will occur within the next 1 to 9 months.

When Mark* and Lisa