Building Wealth on the Foundation of Employment Portfolio Series

[Excerpt] The vision of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) is to advance the economic futures of workers, including those with disabilities. The unique mission of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) within USDOL is to promote the involvement, cooperation, and collaboration of multiple federal, state, and local agencies with the private sector, to increase participation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce and economic mainstream. No single program, policy, funding stream, or strategy is a universal solution for the multiple challenges encountered by individuals with disabilities who want become economically self-sufficient. Yet, across the federal government, there are tools and strategies now being implemented to help lift low-income wage earners—including individuals with disabilities—out of poverty and empower them through employment and expanded economic opportunities. This portfolio series introduces asset development concepts, tools, and activities that individuals with disabilities, their families, and the workforce development professionals who support them can use to build wealth on the foundation of successful employment

Persons with Disabilities Seeking Employment and Public Transportation: Findings from a New Jersey Survey

Over a seven month period in 2010-2012, the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey conducted a survey of persons with disabilities in New Jersey who were actively searching for employment. The purpose of the survey was to identify key transportation-related issues -- with an emphasis on those related to public transit use -- hindering respondent job search and employment opportunities. The brief discusses how transportation is a prominent factor in the job search process and presents an overview of survey findings as they relate to public transit availability, usage, importance, and satisfaction among the approximately 500 survey respondents

Ready To Roll: Southeastern Pennsylvania's Regional Electric Vehicle Action Plan

On-road internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are responsible for nearly one-third of energy use and one-quarter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in southeastern Pennsylvania.1 Electric vehicles (EVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (AEVs), present an opportunity to serve a significant portion of the region's mobility needs while simultaneously reducing energy use, petroleum dependence, fueling costs, and GHG emissions. As a national leader in EV readiness, the region can serve as an example for other efforts around the country."Ready to Roll! Southeastern Pennsylvania's Regional EV Action Plan (Ready to Roll!)" is a comprehensive, regionally coordinated approach to introducing EVs and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) into the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia). This plan is the product of a partnership between the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), the City of Philadelphia, PECO Energy Company (PECO; the region's electricity provider), and Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities (GPCC). Additionally, ICF International provided assistance to DVRPC with the preparation of this plan. The plan incorporates feedback from key regional stakeholders, national best practices, and research to assess the southeastern Pennsylvania EV market, identify current market barriers, and develop strategies to facilitate vehicle and infrastructure deployment

GROWTH MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND PROGRAMS TARGETING SPECIFIC OUTCOMES WITH NON-MARGINAL INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

Communities across the country are struggling to accommodate population growth and economic development while limiting negative impacts of associated land development patterns.. At federal, state and local levels, policies and programs are being implemented in an attempt to mitigate the negative impacts of growth. Many of these programs are united under the concept of Smart Growth. There are numerous resources available that explain and describe applications of tens, if not hundreds, of smart growth tools (for example: see ICMA, 2003). The purpose of this paper is to highlight a few growth management programs that have incorporated tools characterized by fairly significant institutional changes. Of particular interest are the economic incentives and disincentives created by the institutional change. First, sprawl and growth management are defined. Next, the role of federal policy in growth patterns is reviewed briefly. Third, specific examples of growth management policy tools are provided. Finally, several policy issues critical to the achievement of growth management are discussed. Because this paper was initially presented as a general resource for public policy educators, the background material references include an internet site where available.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Calling All Funders: The Role of Philanthropy in Fighting Climate Change

This is the fourth in a series of CEGN briefing papers providing an overview of key Canadian environmental issues, intended to provide background information on the issue and serve as a starting point for discussion on strategic approaches and collaboration on environmental grantmaking

Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Calls on state and local policy makers to use stimulus funding to make neighborhoods conducive to and safe for physical activity, build healthier schools, improve access to healthy foods, and prevent disease in low-income, rural, and minority communities