 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 15 * August 9, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Herman offers thanks and three challenges By Kevin Wilcox
"NACo rises to the challenge," Herman told delegates at the Monday General Session. "For more than 60 years, NACo has always been there. There are kids working this summer because you were working last year." Herman said that although the economy is churning away, the country still faces challenges and this is a good time to address them. "The president says, ‘you don’t fix a leaking roof when it’s raining. You fix a leaking roof when the sun is shining.’ " Herman said that counties and the federal government must work together to make sure workers have "21st century skills for 21st century jobs," to help get families off the welfare rolls and onto payrolls, and to young people are equipped for jobs. The Department of Labor is creating the America’s Job Network to help meet these challenges, Herman said. The program is designed to give greater national visibility to the innovations of the Workforce Investment Act. It will include a toll-free national hotline for job information. "Economic development and skills development are two sides of the same coin," Herman said. "If we build the skills of the people, opportunity will come. "I get so tired of people talking about pockets of poverty. This is about pools of potential. It’s all about changing mindsets." |
