Submitted by: Kathy Norris, Resource Coordinator
January 1 to March 30, 2010
Sierra Work Connection
306 First St., P.O. Box 709
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-4295
Sierra hires a new Resource Coordinator
January 19th, Kathy Norris, was hired as a temporary Marketing Coordinator to provide service to all four counties that Allience for Workforce Development, Inc. serves. She is a second generation, born and raised in Portola. Kathy came back from living in the Bay Area and Arizona for the past 15 years, and jumped into the Marketing Coordinator position with her first job to work with Sierra County on the marketing for Sierra County's ECF grant (Known as the “Sierra County Seeking Occupational Services program (SOS)) The SOS program in Sierra County is a great success and Kathy continues to work closely with Carol Roberts, Director of Human Services and Tamara Powers, Sierra County SOS Program Coordinator.
Kathy responded to an employment announcement and applied for the Resource Coordinator Position at the Sierra Work Connection. Kathy Norris accepted the position as Resource Coordinator on March 19th. Kathy is very excited about her position and assisting the community that she grew up in.
Welcome to the Alliance for workforce development, inc.
Kathy norris, Resource Coordinator!
Sierra hires a new Career Counselor
A big thank you to the Plumas Work Connection for their assistance with providing
Career Center Advisor’s (CCA)to the Sierra Work Conneection while we were
looking for a candidate to fill the CCA position.
In mid March we hired Veronica Gabriel to fill the Career Center Advisor position for the Sierra Work Connection. Veronica is very excited to be working with the people of Sierra County. She has stepped into the position with great enthusiasm and is learning about the programs we currently offer and new programs coming available.
Welcome to Alliance for Workforce Development,
Inc.
Veronica Gabriel, Career Center Advisor!
Sierra Work Connection Gets a Face Lift
The
Sierra County office has undergone a facelift. Please take a look at the before
and after pictures. The staff and visitors are very excited about the new look.
Job seekers and employers that saw the office prior to the new look are amazed at the transformation. The entire inside of the building was painted off white and the furniture has been moved to make it easier for job seekers to view the job posting board.
The
first comment that people have when walking into the office now is, “wow,
it looks so much bigger!” We have moved the posting board to the front
and created an inviting atmosphere for clients to work on resumes, email and
job searches.
The old look!
The new look!
New
Business in Sierra County
Allen’s Auto Repair opened their doors in January, 2010. Starting a new business in this tough economic time was a great risk, but is paying off for Allen Tidwell. The staff at the Sierra Work Connection started working with Allen in late February on his HR and staffing needs.
Patrick O’Rourke went to work
with Allen Tidwell of Allen’s Auto on March 15th thru the assistance of
the Sierra County SOS Program. Allen desperately needed an extra pair of hands,
however as a startup was not sure how he was going to afford an employee right
out of the gate.
We are currently working with Allen and his wife, Cindy, on a business plan so that they can apply for a micro loan from the SBA. The small loan of $5000 will afford the young couple the ability to put in a cement slab for their car lift and get a few of the larger tire repair tools needed for their new business. Good luck to Allen and Cindy in their new venture! The Sierra office of AFWD will continue to track their progress and assist them with their HR and business services as needed.
Patrick O'Rourke, job placement through Sierra County's SOS Program hard at work.
Cathy Eisner-A Healthy Success Story
Cathy came to us January 16th, 2010, having been laid off from Sierra Cascade Family Opportunities, where she worked as a School Teacher for three years. She had been job searching since her layoff and was unable to find employment. She was interested in a skill upgrade and possible career change. She chose to attend Truckee Meadows Community College to get her license as a CNA.
Cathy will graduate in a few weeks from TMCC with a license to be a CNA and has been accepted to the nursing program at TMCC. She will start night classes for her RN this summer while being employed by Eastern Plumas Hospital as a CNA.
Cathy Eisner posing infront of the Sierra Work Connection signage
Sierraville Ranger Station
March 16, 2010 Janelle Hardig, Business Services Coordinator from the Plumas
Work Connection and Kathy Norris, Resource Coordinator of the Sierra Work Connection
had a meeting with Quinten Youngblood from the Sierraville Ranger Station regarding
two Request For Proposals that have been awarded for the County of Sierra. Mr.
Youngblood was good enough to provide the name of the companies that won the
contracts, as well as their supervisors name and phone number to try to facilitate
bringing jobs to the area. Both companies have been contacted.
We are hopeful that the one company located in Oregon will work with the Sierra Work Connection. to hire a hand crew for their $316,046 contract The other contract was won by a local company out of Greenville that will be hiring from the local pool of talent.
Sierraville Ranger Station
Sierra Pacific Industries – Bio Mass Co-Gen plant back up and running!
Following the October 2009 layoffs from the Sierra Pacific Industries Bio Mass
plant of 24 workers, there was a lot of speculation as to what kind of industries
could be brought into Loyalton to create jobs, as this was the largest employer
in the area. 
Sierra Economic Development Corp. worked on a proposition to bring in a wood pellet plant that would be on the land adjacent to the SPI property. That was quickly put to rest as it was found that putting in a manufacturing plant was infeasible.The people of Sierra County were elated when on January 9th, 2010, the SPI Bio Mass Plant was reopened and most of their 24 workers were rehired. SPI has now contracted with Plumas Sierra Rural Electric co-op to supplement their current electricity needs. Sierra County is happy to have their Bio Mass plant back and functioning and putting the local people back to work!
Prop. 40 Fund Money to be allocated to Renovate Smithneck Park (Rotary Park)
March 26th, Kathy Norris attended the meeting of the board of supervisors and
concerned citizens to decide on what the $240,000 from Prop 40 was going to
be spent on. After much speculation, the final decision came down to giving
the Smithneck Park a facelift, including, redoing the current bathroom to make
it ADA compliant, new parking, paths for walking and bicycling, stand alone
BBQ’s, picnic benches, a stage for outdoor concerts, sand in an area of
the creek to create a swimming hole and new landscaping.
The exciting part of all of this is not only will it create some
jobs while the park is getting a facelift, but it is also being designed to
bring in tourism with mountain bicyclists, bird watchers, archery clubs and
hikers. We are hopeful that this will stimulate the local economy and possibly
create much needed jobs in the area.
We will have updated photos of the park as the project progresses in the next
CCR!
Kathy Norris, Resource Coordinator and Veronic Gabriel, Career Center Advisor for the Sierra Work Connection would like to share their pride in Sierra County with a few photos.
