The unemployment rate for the entire nation stands at 8.8%, but in Florida it’s at 11.1%. Recently, Workforce Central Florida -- a labor development agency in the sunshine state — got an idea to reducing the state’s unemployment rate.  The "Cape-ability Challenge," as it dubbed, would give out satiny red superhero capes to jobless Floridians as a way to boost their prospects.The capes fit in with Workforce Central Florida's comic book-inspired campaign that features a villain named "Dr. Evil Unemployment." The state-funded workforce organization reportedly spent $14,000 on 6,000 capes and $2,300 on foam cutouts of “Dr. Evil Unemployment.” (pictured at right)  as part of the campaign.

The campaign was met with derision by many who questioned spending more than $14,000 on capes. Critics said the campaign’s tone minimized the severity of the region’s labor problems, and a state workforce group called the whole idea "insensitive and wasteful." The bizarre campaign didn't last long. On Wednesday, the group announced they were canning the cape idea, which it described as an "admittedly out-of-the-box creative campaign." Now, the state is investigating Workforce Central Florida, including a marketing campaign in which the chairman of the board for the job agency marched around in a super-hero cape.