SIERRA COUNTY

A WELCOMED ADDITION

As of July of 2006, the communities of Sierra County have become part of the Alliance for Workforce Development's service area. The new Workforce Investment Board members representing Sierra County are; Peter Heubner (Governing Board), Gale Ross Gordon (WIB Member), Carol Roberts (WIB Member), and Todd Sloan (WIB Member). AFWD, Inc. is looking forward to providing services to job seekers and businesses to Sierra County and its communities.

The main challenge to this new endeavor is finding a location. AFWD, Inc. is currently seeking office space in Sierra County. Once a location has been established we will hire staff to provide ongoing service to the residents of the county.

 

 

TEMPORARY JOB CREATION

National Emergency Grant Means Jobs for Unemployed Workers

 

A silver lining from the winter storms that ravaged Northeatern California is the creation of temporary jobs to clean up and repair the resulting property damage-and these jobs all pay prevailing wages.

To assess the need for temporary jobs, Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. canvassed local agencies in the months following the storm damage to see where additional help was needed for storm-related repair and cleanup.

Dozens of skilled and unskilled positions are now available with local agencies and organizations in Construction, Clerical, Laborers, Roofing, Clean Up, Traffic Control, Utilities and Maintenance.

"This is a win-win situation," explained Nancy Gregg, Director of Programs at the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. (AFWD). "Since all the jobs created through this funding are in the public sector-it is a real benefit to local agencies who suffered damage and don't have the funding or manpower to fix it. The grant also means jobs for unemployed workers, and a boost for local economies."

Under the grant-funded program, successful applicants can work up to 6 months or earn $12,000, whichever comes first. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years of age and have been unemployed 5 out of the last 26 weeks.

Pictured below is Rhonda Reames-Kiper who has returned to AFWD, Inc. as the program coordinator for the National Emergency Grant Temporary Job Creation Program in Lassen and Plumas Counties.

 

 

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET...

Janis Trueblood has left the building. After 8 years of "positive" service to AFWD Inc., Janis has decided to pursue career interests outside of Plumas County. Janis has been an influential part of the dynamic team at AFWD, Inc. Her work ethic and professionalism will be missed by AFWD, Inc. and the community. This is so long but not good-bye.

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VOCATIONAL NURSING PROGRAM

 

The successful partnership between Feather River College and AFWD, Inc. has been able to exceed traditional expectations.

There is a sense of pride in our work when we do better than expected. This is the case with the current LVN program between FRC and AFWD, Inc. Traditionally, this type of program has a 50% attrition rate. We have 17 of 19 AFWD, Inc. sponsored LVN's continuing their second year at FRC. Currently the LVN students are working at Enloe Hospital in Chico. Their summer course involves clinical studies in a "hands-on" environment. A total of 24 prospective LVN's enrolled at FRC this last year, which is the same number of enrollees as 2004. The 2 year program is aimed at providing the foundation for a continued education in the nursing field.

The LVN program coordinator for AFWD, Inc. is Athea Stephenson. Athea is now working with her third class (the class of '07) here in Plumas County. "It is wonderful to have such a low attrition rate and students who are dedicated to the nursing path." Athea also stated that 13 of the original 24 enrolled students of 2005 graduated from FRC this last year.

 

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NEW FACES AT THE WORK CONNECTION

AFWD, Inc. has added some new talent to it's Plumas team. We recently had a staff photo taken that we will use to assist with placing faces to names (Patty Allen was unable to participate in the photo op but still very much a team member).

Pictured above are:

(back row)-Nancy Gregg, Shannon Bristow, Athea Stephenson, Barry Segulyev, Gary Corderman and Jeff Finch

(front row)-Monica Hosier, Rhonda Reames-Kiper, Tracie Nolan, Cortney Winningham and Joe Kowalski

The new team members are Shannon Bristow (employment specialist), Monica Hosier (employment specialist), Rhonda Reames-Kiper (employment specialist) and Cortney Winningham (reception).

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UPCOMING EVENTS

PLUMAS WORK CONNECTION

State Fund/Workers Comp
September 2006, Day & Time TBA

LASSEN CAREER NETWORK

Intro to Federal Contracting
August 22, 2006, 9am-12pm

State Fund/Workers Comp
September 2006, Day & Time TBA

MODOC EMPLOYMENT CENTER

State Fund/Workers Comp
September 2006, Day & Time TBA

 

To learn more about these events, contact your local One-Stop Employment Center

PLUMAS WORK CONNECTION, 283-WORK

LASSEN CAREER NETWORK, 257-5057

MODOC EMPLOYMENT CENTER, 233-4161