National Association of Regional Councils

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Washington, DC (January 20, 2010) – The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), in partnership with the ICF Macro and Monster Worldwide, will administer a Pathways Out of Poverty award from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Through this award, four regions will receive funding: the Central Arizona Association of Governments; the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (Ohio); the Permian Basin Regional Planning Council (Texas); and the SouthEastern Arizona Government Association. Together, with support from the project team and local partners, these organizations will help build and strengthen a green economy in their region and ensure workers are prepared for future careers in their field.

“We are excited to assist these distinguished regional planning organizations and provide funding to further their efforts in reducing unemployment, specifically for the un- and underserved communities, in collaboration with regional constituents and partners” said NARC President Stephen Cassano, Selectman, Town of Manchester, CT. “The expertise and existing partnerships of these regions in workforce training and job assistance highlights the value of local and national partnerships and working regionally.”

Each regional planning organization, working with their local partners, will target recruitment in high-poverty communities; assist workers in becoming job ready; offer on-the-job training and transitional employment opportunities in emerging energy, building performance and materials reuse fields; advance workers through green career pathways with continuing education and certification programs; and develop a DOL registered apprenticeship program. NARC, ICF Macro and Monster Worldwide will create a program that can be duplicated in communities nationwide. Outcomes for each region will vary, depending on their needs and populations served.

Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAAG) – CAAG, located in Apache Junction, AZ, will provide training in basic construction and building performance knowledge to its unemployed population, which includes Native Americans, 50% of which are living below the poverty line. They will leverage the support from representatives of three Native American nations who sit on their Board to reach these job seekers.

“We are honored to participate in this program, and to showcase our work and inevitable change in our region,” said Maxine Brown, Executive Director, Central Arizona Association of Governments. “We look forward to working with the DOL and promoting this important job training for our regions’ communities.”

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) – MVRPC, located in Dayton, OH, will work closely with its community-based partners, who are already serving un- or underemployed populations in some of the region’s most economically challenged communities, which includes a large ex-offender population. With 39% of their job seekers without a high-school diploma, their job training will be critical for the region.

“We are honored to be included in this Pathways Out of Poverty award,” said Don Spang, Executive Director, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. “Recently, 30,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in our region, so this award is very timely. We thank DOL for this opportunity and look forward to working with our local partner, East End Community Services, to expand job opportunities and training within the weatherization, deconstruction and materials reuse fields.”  

Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission (PBRPC) – PBRPC, located in Midland, TX, will build on its experience in workforce development programs and established partnerships, to provide life skills and money management training for ex-offenders and other unemployed persons, allowing them to retain entry-level jobs while training for more skilled professions.

“Over the last six months, our region has seen more than 3,500 jobs lost—leaving a great need in our region for this work,” said Terri Moore, Executive Director, Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission. “We are honored to work with DOL to move our unemployed community into stable, long-term career solutions in new fields such as renewable energy and building upgrades.”  

SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) – SEAGO, located in Bisbee, AZ, will leverage its partnerships and expand its current work in assisting disadvantaged individuals within high poverty areas, particularly those in the construction and mining business, who have experienced significant job losses in recent years.

“With unemployment rates above 14% for most of our region, there is a great need to train our workforce in new and emerging fields,” said Randy Heiss, Executive Director, SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organizations. “We are honored to work with DOL on this opportunity.”  

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About the National Association of Regional Councils

The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) serves as the national voice for regionalism by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues. NARC’s member organizations are composted of multiple local governments that work together to serve American communities – large and small, urban and rural. In 2008, NARC launched the first of four public awareness campaigns – Green Regions, Mobile Regions, Build Regions and Secure Regions. For additional information, please visit www.NARC.org or www.GreenRegions.org.

About ICF Macro

ICF Macro, an ICF International Company, is based in the Washington, DC area and maintains offices across the United States. We have conducted projects for private and public sector clients in more than 125 countries. ICF Macro has annual revenues of approximately $150 million and more than 1,100 employees. In March 2009, we joined with ICF International to bring increased depth and provide expanded capabilities in health and other public sector markets and leverage our complimentary services in research and evaluation. ICF Macro's mission is to deliver high-quality, research-based solutions to complex problems, integrating objective information with the advisory and implementation tasks needed to improve real world performance. This goal has shaped the firm's history since its founding in 1966. In its pursuit ICF Macro has nurtured core competencies in research and evaluation, management consulting, marketing and communications, and information technology.

About Monster Worldwide

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster(R), the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com.

About Central Arizona Association of Governments

The Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAAG) is a Council of Governments that serves as the regional planning agency for Pinal and Gila Counties. CAAG provides a regional forum for analysis, discussion, and resolution of issues including areas of transportation, environmental quality, community and economic development, job training, and social services.CAAG prides itself in finding new and innovative solutions to regional issues. The face of Region V is rapidly changing, and CAAG is committed to meeting the challenges of a growing area through partnership and collaborative effort.

About Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission strives to foster collaboration among communities, stakeholders and residents to advance regional priorities.  Since 1964, MVRPC has served as a forum and resource where these regional partners can identify priorities, develop public policy and implement collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the Miami Valley.  MVRPC performs various regional planning activities, including air quality, water quality, transportation, land use, research and GIS.  As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), MVRPC is responsible for transportation planning in Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties and parts of northern Warren County.

About Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission

The Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission was founded for purposes of solving area-wide problems through promoting intergovernmental cooperation and coordination, conducting comprehensive regional planning, and providing a forum for the study and resolution of area-wide problems. Through PBRPC, individual governments may combine their resources and talents to meet challenges beyond their individual capabilities. By fostering intergovernmental cooperation and coordination and by carrying on regional planning, PBRPC both complements and supplements local government without infringing on local home rule.

About the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Association

The SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) is a regional planning agency which performs and coordinates a variety of functions. Established in 1972, SEAGO is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist local governments in seeking cooperative solutions to area wide problems; to provide a forum for regional policy development and serve as a coordinating link between municipal, county, tribal, state, and federal agencies. SEAGO serves the four counties of Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz. SEAGO’s programs focus on issues that often cross jurisdictional boundaries, such as water quality, community and economic development initiatives, transportation, aging, and social service issues and the need for affordable, accessible housing. Originally a planning entity, SEAGO’s operational scope has expanded considerably since that time to include planning as well as project programming and implementation activities in the areas of housing, economic development, social services, transportation, the environment, and public transit.