Submitted by Dianna Simar
January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009
Sierra Work Connection
306 First St. Loyalton
P.O. Box 709
Loyalton CA 96118
(530) 993-4295
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We Are Here To Help
With the unemployment rate in Sierra County reaching over eighteen percent we are seeing a significant increase in foot traffic at Sierra Work Connection. News of our programs and services seems to have caught the attention of job seekers as well as employers. Often we are the first stop after hearing the news that they are being laid off. In a small community these are not just employees but neighbors and friends. The employer is every bit as upset at having to lay someone off as the person being let go. We hear repeatedly from employers that the hardest part of their job is letting someone go who has done nothing wrong. But in order to stay in business the owners are being forced to cut their staff to the absolute minimum. It is our hope that by being here for these employers now when they are making tough decisions, when times get better they will also call us for their future hiring and human resource needs.
In this economy when a job seeker enters our office they generally have no idea what the future holds for them. We are increasingly called upon to support these clients as they struggle to find their way in this uncertain time. The training we received as a Career Coach has proven invaluable for this task. The training taught us to be aware that this is an extremely difficult situation and our clients are depending on us to help get them through one of the toughest things they will face. Much of what we do now is to help the job seekers keep a positive attitude and persevere.
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Loyalton High School Class of 2009
Loyalton High School has been organizing mock job interview workshops for
its senior class for many years. This year the mock job interviews were held
at Loyalton High School on February 5th . Dianna Simar, Resource Coordinator
at the Sierra Work Connection, and Janelle Hardig, the Business Coordinator
with the Alliance For Workforce Development, Inc. along with various other
local businesses were invited to conduct interviews with this years graduating
seniors. The students had the opportunity to interview with up to 5 "prospective
employers". Each student answered a series of interview questions and
were given feedback on their answers. The employers coached them on what they
would like to hear and how they could “sell themselves” as the
best candidate for the position.
It was amazing to see so many local business people taking the time from their
jobs and businesses to volunteer their time for this workshop. It was also
great to see the students so well prepared for this event. Each one had a
resume and job application that they had been working on in their English
class. Their answers were well prepared and they didn’t have any problems
even with the toughest questions. Each student was also dressed in business
attire and looked very professional. It was evident that the students and
their English teacher had spent many hours preparing for the event. These
students are well on their way to being successful candidates for jobs they
apply for in the future. Janet McHenry and Amy Fillipini are to be commended
for the extensive preparation of these students.
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Simple Fuels Bringing Biodiesel to Northeastern California
With California working to enhance the production and availability of renewable
energy, a small start-up company in Chilcoot, CA is working diligently to
bring their biodiesel plant into production this Spring.
According to the owner Jamie Lutch, Simple Fuels has completed the planning
and engineering phases and currently in the final stages of construction.
They plan on testing and commissioning in the next couple of months and then
will move to the production phase of the business.
Members of the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. (AFWD) team recently
had the opportunity to tour the facility and talk to Jamie about Simple Fuels
plans. During the meeting Jamie and Emily Edmonds, Process Engineer, introduced
us to their biodiesel manufacturing operation, provided us with a brief history
of the company and, outlined their plans for the future.
Some of the goals for Simple Fuels include:
• Full production, producing up to 5K gallons a day by June 2009
• Potential 24 hour operation depending on market
• Produce zero waste
• 2-6 new hires within 12 months
Simple Fuels now employees a total of three people and when the plant is in
full production, they project that the company will need to hire and train
two to six additional employees in the next 12 months.
The company has been in start up phase for the past four years and plans to
be up and running with production of biodiesel in April of 2009. The fuel
will be sold to end users of equipment and vehicles that run on biodiesel.
Based on the needs of Simple Fuels, the services available through AFWD, and
funding possible through the WIRED Grant for Renewable Energy companies AFWD
staff will be assisting Simple Fuels with recruiting and training personnel
for the biodiesel operation. According to Dianna Simar, Resource Coordinator
for AFWD, “Our business services will support Simple Fuels in their
start up and expansion phases. By providing recruiting and training services,
AFWD will help Simple Fuels maximize their resources by finding, hiring, and
training employees, ensuring the company’s ability to boost production.”
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Youth at Work
