The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is pleased to bring you the latest edition of its electronic newsletter. The JOTF eNewsletter includes news, announcements, and information about upcoming events in the Baltimore area that we hope will be of interest to you. If your organization would like to publicize an event, job announcement, or other information, please e-mail: jessica@jotf.org.

In this issue:

JOTF NEWS
JOTF's New Address
JOTF Forum on Economic Recovery
JOTF Seeks Program Manager


OTHER NEWS
Governor O'Malley Unveils Plan for Unemployment Insurance
Baltimore Sun Blog: "O'Malley takes the right path on unemployment insurance" (12/17/09)
New York Times, "Americans Without Work - Reconnecting Young People" (12/22/09)
Maryland Daily Record, "Putting Inmates to Productive Use" (12/22/09)
Washington Post, "States' jobless funds are being drained in recession" (12/22/09)
New Report: The State of Working Maryland 2009 (Dec. 2009) 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Free Tax Preparation

OPPORTUNITIES
Project S.E.R.V.E. Seeks Full-Time Case Manager



JOTF NEWS

JOTF's New Address
JOTF has moved and now shares office space with the Baltimore and Maryland CASH Campaigns, organizations for which JOTF is the fiscal agent.  JOTF's new address is:
 
111 Water Street
Suite 201
Baltimore, MD 21202
 
Our telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have remained the same.
 
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JOTF Forum on Economic Recovery 
On December 16th, JOTF partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to host a forum on jobs and the economy in Maryland. The forum featured a presentation by Andy Bauer, a Regional Economist with the Fed, and responses from two panelists – Maryland Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) Alex Sanchez, and JOTF Executive Director Jason Perkins-Cohen. Stakeholders from workforce development agencies, social service providers, business groups, and government agencies attended to hear thoughts on the direction of the local economy, and to discuss next steps for getting Marylanders back to work.
 
Bauer’s presentation focused on recent labor force trends in Maryland, and concluded with thoughts on the trajectory of the economy over the next decade. While Maryland has fared better than most states through the recession, Bauer projected that the recovery would still be slow. As we begin to see new job growth, it will be concentrated in fields requiring at least some post-secondary education. Laid off workers may have to build new skill sets to move into these industries. Sanchez responded with an overview of DLLR’s priorities for the year, and fielded questions on what the state can do to get Marylanders back to work. Perkins-Cohen concluded with thoughts on where policymakers should focus their efforts to improve conditions for workers in the state, including strengthening the unemployment insurance system and improving the coordination of workforce development in the region.
 
To request materials or a DVD recording of the event, please contact Andrea Payne Roethke by e-mail or by phone at 410-234-8303.

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JOTF Seeks Program Manager 
 The Job Opportunities Task Force is seeking a Program Manager to oversee JOTF's program activities including our JumpStart pre-apprenticeship in the building trades.  The Program Manager will manage all phases of the operations and serve as JOTF’s liaison with direct service providers, the organizations conducting training, employers, and funders.  Click here for a full job description.  Send resumes to Jessica Traskey.

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OTHER NEWS

Governor O'Malley Unveils Plan for Unemployment Insurance
The Governor's plan to reform Maryland's unemployment insurance system was unveiled at a December 17 meeting of the Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight, of which JOTF is a member.  JOTF supports the Governor's proposed changes to the system because they will enable more individuals to be eligible for benefits at a time when they need them most, and because the changes will result in an infusion of $127 million in federal dollars to the state's unemployment insurance trust fund.  For coverage of the issue and information on why business groups are opposing the plan, please see the articles below. 

Maryland Daily Record, "Businesses oppose unemployment tax plan" (12/18/09)
Baltimore Business Journal, "Md. business groups oppose O'Malley pitch for unemployment insurance tax relief" (12/18/09)
Baltimore Sun, "O'Malley wants to use federal dollars for unemployment fund" (12/18/09)
Maryland Reporter, "Business and labor argue over unemployment insurance changes" (12/18/09)

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Baltimore Sun Blog: "O'Malley takes the right path on unemployment insurance" (12/17/09)
In this blog post, the Sun's Andy Green explains how despite being up in arms for months over soon-to-be increases to the unemployment insurance tax, Maryland business groups are opposing the Governor's proposal to provide $83 million in tax relief.  Green also points out that unemployment insurance payments are as much a benefit to businesses as they are to workers, yileding a $1.63 return for every dollar paid out.  For a detailed description of the Governor's proposal, click here to read the full post.

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New York Times, "Americans Without Work - Reconnecting Young People" (12/22/09)
This New York Times editorial examines the $154 billion jobs bill passed by the House and argues that job creation ought to be the number one priority for 2010.  The writer expresses concern that the bill does not do enough to address the ominous shortfall of jobs among the young people who have been driven from the job market in record numbers.  The problem is especially severe in low-income, minority communities where the jobless rate for high school students hovers near 90 percent.  Click here to read the full article. 

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Maryland Daily Record, "Putting Inmates to Productive Use" (12/22/09)
Maryland Correctional Enterprises employs inmates in an effort to prepare and train them for getting back to work once they return to the community.  According to the article, the program employed over 2,000 skilled inmates last year in furniture restoration and textiles jobs.  Statistics show that inmates who worked at least one year in the program are 50% less likely to return to prison than those who do not participate.  Click here to read the full article.

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Washington Post, "States' jobless funds are being drained in recession" (12/22/09)
According to federal projections, unemployment insurance funds in 40 states will go broke within two years and need $90 billion in loans to keep issuing unemployment benefit checks.  Unemployment compensation funds are separated from state general funds, so when there is a shortfall, only two primary solutions are usually considered - either cut the benefit or raise the payroll tax.  For more information on how states are struggling to fill the gap, click here to read the full article.

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New Report: The State of Working Maryland 2009 (Dec. 2009) 
The Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute has released a new report: "The State of Working Maryland 2009."  The findings of this year's State of Working Maryland mark a sharp departure from findings in prior years.  Over the past few years, the Institute found that the overall living standard of blue- and pink-collar Marylanders was stagnating.  But this year, as a result of the worst recession since the early 1980s and perhaps since the Great Depression, the report finds that their overall economic living standard has actually deteriorated.  Click here to read the full report. 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Free Tax Preparation!
The Baltimore CASH Campaign wants working families to get all the credit they deserve.

Families and individuals can have their taxes prepared for free at one of 20 CASH Campaign locations in Baltimore.  And if they qualify, families and individuals can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other valuable tax credits.  Start saving and buy a US Savings Bond at all tax sites.  Free services are provided to taxpayers with incomes under $49,000 and single taxpayers (no dependents) with incomes under $25,000.
To learn more or to make an appointment at one of the CASH Campaign locations, call 410-685-0525 or 2-1-1 or visit www.bmorefreetaxes.org.

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OPPORTUNITIES
 
Project S.E.R.V.E. Seeks Full-Time Case Manager 
Project S.E.R.V.E. is seeking a full-time re-entry case manager.  Project S.E.R.V.E. maintains a dual-purpose:  To contribute to our community while improving lives of individuals.  While training our members in the necessary skills for long-term employment, we focus our energies on improving our community by cleaning and maintaining parks, abandoned properties and Baltimore City schools.  Click here for a full job description. 

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