Wish you were here: Put Illinois to Work program

Illinois is moving forward with the “Put Illinois to Work” program, an initiative that leverages federal dollars to fill as many as 15,000 full-time positions at Illinois companies with unemployed workers.

According to an announcement by the Illinois Senate Democrats,

Employers will receive extra employees at no cost to them: the program is funded by state and federal stimulus dollars, and Heartland Human Care Services Inc. will handle payroll and guarantees no wage expenses for employers.

A similar program in Indiana was authorized by the General Assembly this year, but FSSA has yet to act on implementing the program. Under the Helping Indiana Restart Employment (H.I.R.E) program, which was included in SEA 23, nearly 10,000 unemployed Hoosiers could be rehired.

The program calls for tapping $100 million available in federal stimulus funds that otherwise will be left on the table. The Indiana program was modeled after the Mississippi STEPs program, implemented by Republican Governor Haley Barbour.

Why the rush? 
The federal funding – available through the TANF Emergency Fund established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – is set to expire on September 30.  By that time many Hoosiers will have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Indiana’s unemployment rate has hovered above the national average and is now at 9.9%.

How other states are using the funds
Some 42 states have had their applications for TANF Emergency Funds approved and additional states have applications in the works. As of April 1, 26 states had been authorized to use TANF Emergency Funds to establish new or expand subsidized employment programs: Alabama, California, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

These states have plans in place to provide subsidized jobs to about 160,000 individuals by the end of September.

Here are a few examples of how other states are leveraging the federal funds:

• Tennessee, for example, has focused job creation efforts on areas of very high unemployment. The creation of subsidized jobs in rural Perry County helped to lower its unemployment rate from 27.3 percent in January 2009 to 18.6 percent in August 2009.
• New York has mounted an initiative to create “green jobs,” expand health care outreach, and subsidize private-sector employers who hire new permanent employees.
• California is creating subsidized employment programs through an initiative in 43 of its 52 counties that aims to eventually place about 20,000 individuals in subsidized jobs. As of January 2010, there were about 15,000 active placements in counties throughout the state.

See a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for more examples from other states.

Photos: Workers’ Memorial Day observed at the Statehouse

On Wednesday families of Hoosiers who died in work-related accidents, along with Governor Mitch Daniels, Lori Torres of the Indiana Department of Labor, Linda Hamilton of the Workers’ Compensation Board and Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott, gathered in the Statehouse rotunda to observe Workers’ Memorial Day and remember the 91 Indiana workers killed on the job in 2009.

Families of the deceased workers placed flowers in memorial at the ceremony.

According to the Indiana Department of Labor, there were 132 work-related deaths in Indiana in 2008, and the workplace fatality rate was 4.1 per 100,000 Hoosier workers. The top three industries with workplace fatalities in Indiana were construction, agriculture and manufacturing.

Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott told the crowd gathered in the Statehouse:

It’s clear that workers’ safety and health remain in serious and unacceptable danger. Indiana’s working families need good, safe jobs now. So we’re here to remember and honor those workers who have paid the ultimate price and to call on Congress to create jobs and strengthen job safety laws.

Sally Voland, president of Kids’ Chance Indiana, discussed the opportunity for children whose parent was injured or killed in a work-related accident to receive financial aid for college through the Kids’ Chance scholarship program.

Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott addresses the audience at the ceremony.

Held annually on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day recognizes and remembers workers who have been injured or killed on the job. April 28 was chosen as the observance day because it marks the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA).

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement on today’s observance, which began:

Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones once said, ‘Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.’ That call to arms rings especially true today, on Workers Memorial Day, and on the heels of a tragic month for the nation’s working families.

The AFL-CIO reported that in 2008, 14 U.S. workers were killed each day as a result of job hazards. More than 4 million U.S. workers were injured on the job, while 5,214 workers were killed. There were 50,000 to 60,000 deaths resulting from occupational diseases reported nationally in 2008.

Rental housing costs further “Out of Reach” for low-income Hoosiers

According to a report released this week, the Housing Wage for Indiana has increased to $13.58, meaning the average Hoosier family must earn this hourly wage to be able to afford rent and utilities for the average two-bedroom apartment. The rate increased from $13.41 in 2009.

The Out of Reach 2010 report was released jointly by The National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED).

Indiana’s Housing Wage ranked 20th among the states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Indiana’s rate was average for Midwest states, falling in the middle of neighboring states Ohio ($13.39), Kentucky ($12.19), Michigan ($14.34) and Illinois ($17.44).

A release issued on Thursday by the Indiana Association for Community and Economic Development provided greater insight into what this number represents for Hoosiers:

In Indiana, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $7.25.  In order to afford the FMR (Fair Market Rent) for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 75 hours per week, 52 weeks per year; or, a household must include 1.9 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two bedroom FMR affordable.

In Indiana, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $11.68 an hour.  In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 46 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.  Working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.2 worker(s) earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.

Find the data for your area

Data for specific counties or metropolitan areas is available on the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s website. The local information is based on the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

How is the Housing Wage determined?

Indiana’s Housing Wage is based on the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment of $706.  In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $2,353 monthly or $28,241 annually.  Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, the result is the Housing Wage of $13.58.

Celebrating 40 years of Earth Day

Today marks the 40th anniversary for one of the most widely celebrated environmental advocacy days around the world. Earth Day first took place on April 22, 1970, when more that 20 million Americans took to the streets, classrooms and auditoriums to demonstrate for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment.

The History of Earth Day
Founded by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and coordinated by Denis Hayes, the first Earth Day aligned bi-partisan support, transcended social classes and gave a voice to environmental advocacy. Earth day would eventually lead to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

The Start of Earth Day in Indiana
As the 20th anniversary of Earth Day drew nearer in 1990, Hayes was asked to coordinate another major campaign. This time, Earth Day went global including 200 million people across 141 countries.

In Indiana, volunteers organized a 20th anniversary Earth Day celebration in downtown Indianapolis. A short time later, they formed a member-based, nonprofit organization, Earth Day Indiana, to continue the annual event in Indiana.

How does Indiana Rank?
According to a 2007 study by Forbes.com, Indiana ranked 49th in the nation for environmental wellness.

In 2007, the U.S. EPA reported that Indiana had the highest amount of toxic discharges to bodies of water among all state, more than 11 percent of the nation’s total.

By 2005 3.7 million Hoosiers were exposed to tap water that included contaminants above acceptable health and safety limits.

Senate Democrats in Action
Today Senate Democrats continue to work toward a greener future for our state and our planet by protecting our natural resources and investing in a sustainable future. Senate Democrats realize that environmentally friendly practices not only preserve our natural resources but stimulate new technologies and economic drivers at a time when jobs and economic stability is needed most. Watch the video below to learn more about where Senate Democrats stand  to help make  a cleaner, greener and brighter future for Hoosier families.

Renewable Energy

Green Jobs and Economic Development

Junior and senior high school students – Don’t miss this opportunity!

The Center for Leadership Development will hold their 3rd Annual  College Prep Conference and College Fair at the IUPUI Campus Center. This event will provide students and parents with an opportunity to gather key information regarding college goals and the necessary steps to making those goals a success. The conference includes four focus sessions, opening remarks by Congressman André Carson and State Superintendent Dr. Tony Bennett, lunch and a college fair featuring many colleges from throughout the state.

When: Saturday, May 15, 2010
8:30am-2:30pm

Where: IUPUI Campus Center
420 University Blvd (map)
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Cost:      $10 per participant (includes lunch)

Download the conference flyer for more details and complete and return the registration form by April 30.

For more information, contact CLD at citywideconference@cldinc.org or call (317) 923-8111.

New in 2010: Homestead verification forms

In 2009, the General Assembly set out a process under HEA 1344 to ensure that all homeowners are receiving the appropriate property tax deductions and to address potential tax fraud. Beginning with the Pay 2010 property tax statements, all Indiana residents who own a home will be receiving a Homestead Verification Form. The verification form, or “Pink Sheet,” will be used to verify residency and eligibility for homeowners who claim the Indiana Homestead Deduction.

The information that is collected will be used to compile a secure database that County Auditors can use to determine that every homeowner, as an individual or married couple, only receives one Homestead Deduction.

Each county will have a different due date for submission of the verification form for each year based on when tax bills are mailed, so homeowners should pay close attention to the date on the Pink Form that they receive.

Additional forms will be mailed out with tax statements in 2011 and 2012. Homeowners will need to ensure that their forms are accurately submitted to the County Auditor at least once before 2013, or risk losing the Homestead Deduction on their property.

Questions?
Check out the Department of Local Government Finance’s Fact Sheet on the Homestead Verification Form.

Indiana receives $1Million for Individual Development Grants

Indiana recently received $1 million from the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services to fund Individual Development Accounts which assist low-income Hoosier families who keep a savings account.

The grant will help support the efforts of State Senator Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) who authored Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 389 to ensure that youth leaving the foster-care program are aware that the accounts are available to them.  Caseworkers are currently required to provide children in foster care with information concerning Pell grants, Chafee grants, federal supplemental grants, the state student assistance commission and FAFSA. Effective Jul7 1, 2010, caseworkers of a foster child will also be required to provide information concerning individual development accounts to children in foster care and their foster parents.  Learn more from Senator Breaux about SEA 389 >

For every dollar a participant deposits into their account, the federal government assists the state to match the amount to help families save money to buy a new home, receive higher education or training, or open a small business. Eligibility requirements are either a yearly household income below 175% of the federal poverty guideline at the time of enrollment, or a member of the household on TANF at the time of enrollment. Individual development accounts are managed by private, nonprofit community development corporations.

Read more in the news at The Indy Star >

Congress reauthorizes Fed Unemployment Extensions through May

Congress has approved legislation to keep federal funds intact for five unemployment extensions through June 2, 2010. Those who did not recieve benefits during the two week gap between the expirations and passage of this legislation will have their funds restored.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) noted in a press release that eligible Hoosiers who did not have a voucher available last week due to the expiration of the federal extensions will find vouchers for last week and this week on Uplink, DWD’s online unemployment filing system, beginning April 18.

According to the United States Department of Labor:

Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment.

Debate continues on the U.S. Senate floor to extend coverage through the remainder of 2010.

Read more in the news at:

Evansville Courier & Press

The New York Times

Indiana March Unemployment Rate increases to 9.9%

The state announced Friday morning that Indiana’s unemployment rate for March 2010 was 9.9%, up 0.01% from February.

According to the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD) press release:

Seasonally-adjusted total non-farm employment in Indiana increased by 16,600 in March, the third straight month of employment gains. Sectors reporting significant employment increases include: Professional and Business Services (7,200), Manufacturing (6,300), Construction (3,500) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (3,000). Sectors reporting significant employment declines include: Leisure and Hospitality (-1,100), Financial Activities (-1,100), Private Education and Health Services (-800).

Indiana remains the only state of its neighbors that has an unemployment rate below 10%, and the only state in the U.S. to report year-to-year unemployment growing less than one percent.

Also available from DWD:

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Photos: Heather’s Law signed today

State Senator Earline Rogers (District 3) joined Governor Daniels for the bill signing of Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 316, known as “Heather’s Law.”  The new law requires the Department of Education to develop models for Indiana schools to better educate students about the serious reality of dating violence. The law is named for Heather Norris who was brutally murdered by her estranged high school boyfriend in 2007.  Heather’s mother Debbie Norris, the driving force behind the passage of SEA 316,  joined Senator Rogers and Governor Daniels for the bill signing this afternoon. The event was also attended by Heather’s father, Ed Ancelet, and several family members as well as representatives from the Domestic Violence Network, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Sheltering Wings, Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Children’s Bureau, the Department of Education, local schools and law enforcement.  Read more about Heather’s Law >

L to R: Debbie Morris, mother of Heather Norris, Governor Daniels, and State Senator Earline Rogers

State Senator Earline Rogers and Debbie Norris