Call for Action...NOVA Funding

We are writing to you to draw your attention to the Reduction in Funding Sources for Displaced Employee Services in Silicon Valley, California and to ask that the funding be reinstated as soon as possible. The stories youll read on the following pages are individual yet resonate several truths. We are current members of ProMatch, ProMatch Alumni and Friends of ProMatch who have all experienced the magic of the programs offered through this one of a kind organization. ProMatch is part of NOVA and provides skill-building workshops, training and most importantly collaborative intelligence about the job market today. In an ever-changing market, ProMatch provides jobseekers the tools, confidence and hope necessary to regain employment.

Based in Sunnyvale, California, NOVA (North Valley Job Training Consortium) is a nonprofit, federally funded employment and training agency that provides customer-focused displaced workforce development services. We work closely with local businesses, educators and job seekers to ensure that our programs provide opportunities that build the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to address the workforce needs of the worlds center of innovation, Silicon Valley.

The majority of job seekers served through NOVA are highly skilled workers that have been laid off due to corporate downsizing, off-shoring of jobs to China and India or closure of their companies. NOVA also helps job seekers with special needs such as homeless veterans, disabled workers, welfare recipients, teen parents, and older workers. NOVA partners with many organizations in order to provide these job seekers with customized employment and training solutions.

NOVA is funded primarily by grants from the state and federal government, and by local industry. Multiple funding sources include the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Defense Conversion Act, Employment Training Panel, Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, Wagner-Peyser Act, and funds from private corporations. By far the largest percentage of NOVA's annual budget has come from competitive grant proposals funded through the U.S. Department of Labor and the State Employment Development Department.

The amount of funding allocated to NOVA has been continuously reduced over the past several years. Additionally, the President signed a law December 2007 that will, in fact, take $500,000 in funding that had already been promised, and in most cases, delivered to provide services to people in need.

This funding shortfall has had a disastrous effect on NOVA and its ability to provide services to the thousands of unemployed Silicon Valley workers. Because of the situation NOVA is forced to initiate a partial and temporary closure, effective Friday, February 15, 2008. NOVA will terminate all operations every Friday through the end of June 2008. This 20\% reduction in Employment Services will restrict access to NOVA staff, to NOVAs Learning Lab, ProMatch Professional Development Workshops, pre-layoff outplacement services and to all services in the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center. There will be limited access to CalJOBS computers which are operated by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and other services funded solely by EDD.

NOVA is recognized as the Nations leader in delivering employment services and training.

Our awards include:

Enterprise Award for National Performance Excellence for overall organizational performance based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria.

Buzz Aldrin Space Education & Workforce SpotBeam Award by the California Space Authority for the development of the certificate program to transition dislocated software engineers into careers as aerospace engineers.

JETT*CON (Joint Employment and Training Technology Conference) Showcase Award for access and accessibility.

Workforce Development Award for Excellence from the National Association of Counties (NACO).

Putnam Award for Excellence from the California League of Cities.

Technology Innovation Award at ITE Conference in San Jose. The CONNECT! kiosk system provides touch-screen, multilingual, multimedia access to information and referral services.

Innovation Award from the Council on Excellence in Government.

National Alliance of Business Distinguished Performance Award

Presidential Award for Outstanding Job Training Program in the Nation

Governor's Award for Exemplary Service Coordination

National Alliance of Business Award for SDA of the Year


Our nations economy and security is greatly influenced by the research, development, and innovation provided by the workers we represent in Silicon Valley. We urgently appeal to you to provide your leadership and influence to restore these funds.

Respectfully,
ProMatch Members, Staff, Alumni and Friends of ProMatch