South Florida Campaign Aims to Find Jobs for Welfare Recipients.(Originated from The Miami Herald)

Oct. 27--A year ago this month, the state's welfare reform law took effect, beginning a two-year countdown toward economic self-sufficiency for more than 100,000 Florida residents.

In South Florida, where nearly a third of the state's welfare recipients reside, the mission to find jobs for people is especially tough. A statewide campaign is underway to encourage employers to hire welfare recipients and take advantage of new tax incentives.

"If half of the employers in Dade County employed one welfare client, there would be no more welfare clients in Dade County," said Ray Cade, an economist with the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security in Miami.

Dade County has more than 30,000 welfare recipients -- about 25 percent of all the …