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<br />.. <br /> <br />Existing workers need to access affordable, flexible education and training <br />opportunities that allows them to add to their current skill set to stay competitive <br />in their industry, and to avail themselves of opportunities for advancement and <br />promotion. Many workers have some of the same deficiencies mentioned above <br />in relation to job seekers. <br /> <br />B. How will the needs of employers be determined in your area? <br />[State Planning Guidance N.B.6] <br /> <br />The City of Santa Ana's Economic Development Division has successfully used a <br />variety of methods to determine employers needs in the city including surveys, <br />focus groups, community forums, personal telephone calls and visits. In addition, <br />the City has State Enterprise Zone and more recently, Federal Empowerment <br />Zone designation, both of which have extensively surveyed the local businesses <br />and community members to determine needs. It is not the Santa Ana Workforce <br />Investment Board's intent to duplicate these efforts but instead to use this <br />information and other data culled from local organizations such as the <br />Employment Development Department, Chamber of Commerce, Southland <br />Economic Development Corporation and Rancho Santiago Community College <br />District to determine the needs of local employers. Additional data collection <br />efforts will be utilized as needed. <br /> <br />C. What are the current and projected employment opportunities in the local area? <br />[WIA Section 118(b)(1)(B)] <br /> <br /> <br />The 2000 Orange County Forecast released Chapman University's Center for <br />Economic Research states that even though job growth dipped in 1999 to 3.2 % it <br />is still higher than the job growth rate in the U.S. which is at 2.2 % and even <br />higher than most other California counties. The Chapman Model expects an <br />average annual job growth rate of 3% and predicts growth to be between 2 and <br />2.6% over the next five years. Another recent study completed by the Santa Ana <br />Empowerment Zone also shows that manufacturing, retail trade, services <br />(personal and business), wholesale trade and education hire the most employees. <br />EXHIBIT 1 <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />19C-5 <br />