Job center upgrades create new possibilities
SKYE POURNAZARI/DAILY FORUM
Sheena Fletchall works Tuesday in the main room of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments job center in downtown Maryville. Services have changed at the center, but new opportunities and options have become available such as some new job listings as well as new private help with job searching.
Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments recently received contracts to continue providing services at the job center in downtown Maryville.
Services changed slightly and the office layout also is slightly different, but the main goal is the same: Helping people find work.
What used to be a room with six computers available for people to use for self-service, is now cut nearly in half with a large wall to separate and make a private space for people seeking help with their job search.
Functional Leader Kim Mildward said, “I think it’s OK. We’ve had several people coming in and sitting down doing self-service, who either want training or need more service than self-service.
“I’m busy with appointments, which is always good, trying to get people enrolled and get them those services.”
She said one day they had two people come in and they got them set down on the computers and when they got done, two more came in.
“So, we’re just kind of watching things and making sure people are getting services, getting helped and answering questions on how things have changed for them if they need it,” Mildward said. “You never know when customers are going to come in in this type of industry.”
New staff member, Sheena Fletchall is in the process of working with businesses to get more job orders.
“Those still seem to be coming in well,” Mildward said. “That hasn’t changed. We’re starting to see different opportunities.”
She said they’re receiving job openings from the city for the conference center. Manufacturing jobs are readily available. In the last couple days, the center received some job listings for retail, and some for hospitality industry.
“It’s kind of a wide range,” Mildward said. “Just a variety of things, which it’s always good, just to have a variety for people. So far so good.”
One new difficulty is explaining the changes to the clients who are more regular she said. They were used to coming in and searching with help, however, now if they’re not registered for the private consultation services, they will have get registered for it, before they can use it.
“Not that it’s difficult,” she said. “It’s just a change for the customers sometimes as much as it is for us in our roles that we’re playing in the center.”
Other pieces the job center said it would do in its proposal it is just starting to design.
Mildward said they are working on some toolkits for some special populations, one for veterans, one for offenders and other target groups. The kits will include resources they just could pick up or we could work through them with.
“We still have plenty of opportunities for individuals who want to do training in whether it be GED classes, they’re going to school and they need assistance with tuition, books and fees, maybe transportation costs,” she said.
She also said there is still much time available for individuals who are interested in doing learn while you earn, as well as, individuals who want to work one on one with a career counselor to work on interviewing skills or resume cover letters.
Mildward also said there still are opportunities with the youth program.
“Amy Dowis still has enrollments open for her youth program and a few summer job spots still left if anyone is interested in that,” she said. “That program is scheduled to end at the end of November.”
She said the youth program is managed under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which also includes Adult, Dislocated Worker.
“Summer jobs is set aside money, Mildward said. “I believe this year we actually received some money from TANF to help work with individuals that are ages 16 to 24.”
The Missouri Job Center in Maryville is open from 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for state observed holidays.
