Sample State Independent Agency Releases - By USFED News

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF AURORA'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROVIDER PROGRAM RECEIVES $60,000 GRANT FROM HEALTHONE ALLIANCE

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DENVER, Dec. 23 -- The Colorado Community College System issued the following news release:

Community College of Aurora's Emergency Medical Provider (EMP) program will receive $60,000 from HealthONE Alliance.

The cutting-edge Emergency Medical Provider (EMP) facility - the first of its kind in the United States - houses the realistic Simulation Studio, a life-like environment for EMS trainees, letting them learn in settings replicating real-life environments.

It is laid out and furnished like an ordinary residence, complete with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The back of a fully-equipped ambulance sits at the "back door."

Bob Matoba, director of CCA's Emergency Medical Provider program, envisions three additional Simulation Studios, which will be built in the near future. One will simulate a typical urban streetscape; another will be a bar/restaurant environment; and the last may be an industrial environment, where trainees can practice handling patients on elevated walkways and stairs. Each studio will integrate a simulated emergency room, allowing trainees to practice interfacing with hospital staff.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION SET TO UNVEIL LAST LEG OF GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING TRAIL

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 22 -- The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the following news release:

Snail kites will dazzle you. Mangrove cuckoos will amuse you, and black-whiskered vireos will lure you in when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) unveils the long-awaited South Florida Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

With completion of the 2,000-mile trail, birdwatchers will be able to glimpse some of Florida's remarkable avian attractions at 446 premier sites throughout the state. The unveiling will take place Jan. 14 at a dedication at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples.

The Trail is a conservation tool, fueled by the rapidly expanding popularity of bird-watching. FWC selected the sites based on the quality of bird-watching experiences they offer and their resilience. The agency compiled and published trail guides representing four geographic regions.

The south leg is the fourth and final section of the birding trail and has 116 sites. It winds through 12 counties: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, De Soto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach and Sarasota. The East Florida portion debuted in 2000, followed by West Florida and the Panhandle.

The trail includes nine "gateway sites," including two south loop locations -- the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. At these sites, both beginning and avid birders can borrow binoculars, pick up field guides (written in English or Spanish) and gather other educational materials.

South Florida offers birdwatchers a magnificent show. Its coastlines act as migration superhighways for many birds, and, of course, the expansive Everglades shelter an abundance of birds, most notably Florida's signature herons and egrets. Grants from the Federal Highway Administration, the state Department of Transportation and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida have helped fund the trail. Partners include the Florida Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and Audubon of Florida.

Completion of this final section is a conservation coup, harnessing the might of Florida tourism to benefit our delicate wild lands. For more information, visit www.floridabirdingtrail.com.

GOV. EHRLICH ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REPORT FOR FY 2004

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ANNAPOLIS, Md., Aug. 4 -- The Maryland Office of Minority Affairs issued the following news release:

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., today announced the results of the fiscal year 2004 Minority Business Report, which covers July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, from the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs. The report tracks Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program activities for 75 State agencies.

"Our inaugural MBE report shows State agencies were awarded $641,337,401 to minority business enterprises in fiscal year 2004," said Governor Ehrlich. "This represents a significant increase of nearly 20% over the previous year and includes over $334 million in payments to MBEs. It is also consistent with the commitment we made to expand opportunities for womenowned and minority businesses."

As a result of a 2001 audit report of the MBE Program, Governor Ehrlich directed an overhaul of the program to increase accountability for results. For the first time, the State now measures MBE contracting with actual dollars spent. In addition, significant legislation and actions have been established to level the playing field for MBEs including:

* The elimination of the tenday rule now requires prime contractors to identify MBE participants when they bid on a State contract.

* The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs now has greater authority to oversee the MBE Program.

* The Governor's Mentor/Protégé Program facilitates strategic partnerships for business development.

* The Small Business Reserve Program now requires 22 State agencies to reserve 10% of their contracting dollars for small businesses.

* State agencies have held procurement forums across the State to bring procurement officers directly to MBEs to better answer questions. www.gov.state.md.us

* Additional outreach activities and projects can be easily found at www.minoritybusiness.com.

The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs secured the services of economics research firm Sage Policy Group, Inc., to help analyze the MBE Program awards and payments.

"Given the 40 percent overstatement found in the 2001 MBE Legislative Performance Audit, our analysis includes an adjustment factor in order to adequately compare historical data and to more accurately reflect recent improvements in data quality," said Anirban Basu, economist and CEO of Sage Policy Group.

"Substantial progress has been made to reengineer the reporting process and analyze the data across all State agencies," said Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele. "Our goal is to eliminate all data quality issues as we continue moving forward in this crucial process."

"We are working to leverage technology to further improve our MBE reporting data quality," said Sharon R. Pinder, Special Secretary for the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs. "Our 2004 report establishes a more accurate benchmark for future fiscal years. Payments, not awards, represent the most meaningful measure of the MBE Program's success."

To obtain the analysis or a complete copy of the fiscal year 2004 Minority Business Enterprise Report, please contact the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs at 410/767-8232.