The Los Angeles Workforce Funder Collaborative (LAWFC), a public-private partnership led by United Way of Greater Los Angeles that is focused on implementing long-term systems improvement, new funding streams and effective policies to serve Los Angeles businesses and our local workforce, today announced over $1.3 million in grants to support community partners. Designated to Los Angeles County organizations providing job training and workforce development within the healthcare, construction, logistics (including the Los Angeles Ports, which take in 43% of all imports brought into the US) industry sectors, the grants will serve to drive the LAWFC’s goal of creating the necessary pathways to ensure a skilled and financially stable workforce.

The announcement is made in conjunction with today’s release of The Allied Health Workforce Analysis by The California Endowment, an LAWFC member, and a grant reception at The California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities in Los Angeles, CA.

Los Angeles Workforce Collaborative Funds Local Organizations to Create Thriving Workforce System in Los Angeles.

In August, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice approved more than $1.2 million in grants to create new jobs in the region, to support services for children and families and to help local arts organizations expand.

The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation received $196,210 to support the Gulf Coast Partnership for Regional Job Creation, a joint project of the Venice Area Chamber and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce to drive business development and create new jobs through the use of interactive technology. This collaboration among several area chambers will include a regional business resource Web site, video teleconferencing connections at the Venice and Sarasota chambers, and a virtual business networking platform.

Foundation grants target jobs and arts expansion | HeraldTribune.com | Southwest Florida’s Information Leader.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation will hold a Coastside request for proposal information session at Cabrillo Unified School District on September 24 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The community foundation has identified a series of Requests for Proposals, or RFPs, that address five grantmaking strategies:

Community Opportunity – Safety-Net Services

Economic Security – Combining Financial Education and Asset Building

Economic Security – Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

Immigrant Integration – Strengthening the Legal Services Infrastructure

Immigrant Integration – Bridging the Cultural Gap

Education – Request for Proposal Announcement November 2008

Regional Planning – Request for Proposal Announcement January 2009

Pacifica Riptide: Silicon Valley Comm. Foundation RFP, Sept. 24.

Businesses have begun to recognize that the shortage of affordable housing – especially in these days of high gas prices – hurts their ability to recruit and retain workers, a new survey suggests.

The Arizona Community Foundation poll found that more than half the businesses surveyed said they were concerned about a lack of affordable housing for employees near the places of business, and more than a third said that was hurting their ability to recruit and retain staff.

High costs concern employers.