Bucks Workonomics: November 2022 Issue

Close up image of hands holding a paper cutout of people representing diverse careers and with the message to invest in people

COUNTY OF BUCKS | DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | NOV 2022 ISSUE

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As we kick off the season of giving this month, there many opportunities for our community to celebrate advances in workforce efforts throughout the region.

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act, also known as the Fitzgerald Act, which established the Registered Apprenticeship system as we know it today. While this legislation served as a cornerstone for this gold standard of work-based learning, the apprenticeship system it created continues to evolve, expand, and diversify. During this milestone year, we look forward to celebrating the value of Registered Apprenticeship for industries, career seekers, and communities during National Apprenticeship Week on November 14-20, 2022.

Partners in the public workforce system can help shape the future of Registered Apprenticeship by ensuring that these opportunities for good quality jobs and high-growth career pathways are fully available for traditionally underrepresented populations.

Find a NAW events near you at www.apprenticeship.gov. Are you new to apprenticeship and are interested in learning more? Please contact Adina Tayar, Regional Apprenticeship Coordinator, for Bucks and Montgomery counties to discover the many benefits of these innovative programs for your business.

Lastly, be sure to register for a WEDTalk ways to take a deeper look at unconscious bias in the workplace as a way to create a culture of inclusion. During this insightful WEDTalk, DEI expert Dima Ghawi will spark curiosity through self-reflection, encourage attendees to find the courage to break free of

harmful norms, and commit to the continuous journey of self-improvement while taking an active

role in being part of the solution. Registration for this free event is online. All of us here at WED hope you will join us!

Best wishes for a joyful Thanksgiving,

Billie F. Barnes

UPCOMING EVENTS

WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Bucks Built Startup Fund: Fall Application Now Open

Outside of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope PA

Tourism In Bucks Generated $986 Million In Economic Impact In 2021

Ground breaking event with shovels digging into the ground

Development continues on former US Steel site with expanded Morton Salt facility

News paper advertising unemployment information with an update stamped on the front page

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Down To 4.1 Percent In September

WORKFORCE HIGHLIGHTS

Bucks County WED Congratulates Dr. Benjamin E. Rusiloski, 14th President of Delaware Valley University

Bucks County WED celebrates the inauguration of Delaware Valley University's 14th president, Benjamin E. Rusiloski, Ph.D., who has served the university for more than 28 years.

Dr. Rusiloski, a member of the Bucks County Workforce Development Board, was inaugurated during a special ceremony held in DelVal's Life Sciences Building auditorium on October 21. DelVal posted a live-stream video of the ceremony on its website for those who cannot attend.

Dr. Rusiloski's journey with higher education began at DelVal in 1994, when he joined the university as an assistant professor of chemistry. Since then, he has served as a professor, chaired two academic departments, served as dean of the School of Life and Physical Sciences, served as vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of Faculty, and served as interim president.

SBA Announces Call for Nominations for the 2023 National Small Business Week Awards

Earlier in September, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the call for nominations for the 2023 National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards. The NSBW Awards recognize SBA-assisted small businesses’ inspirational achievements and contributions to their communities and our nation’s economy.

All nominations should be submitted electronically by 3 p.m. ET on December 8, 2022. The awards will be presented during the NSBW Awards ceremony in the first week of May 2023.

For over 50 years, the SBA has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration that offers established by the U.S. Department of Labor to bring together leading business, labor, education, apprentices, and other critical partners to showcase the impact Registered Apprenticeship programs have on building the American workforce, as well as highlight the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for re-building our economy, advancing racial and gender equity, building a pipeline to good, quality jobs, and supporting underserved communities.

NAW gives employers, including sponsors and providers, the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices so that career seekers can learn more about the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship and the programs that are available in their communities. During NAW events, apprentices have a platform to share their apprenticeship experience and how it has transformed their lives.

For more information and events, visit apprenticeship.gov/NAW.