Contact: Gregg Bosak
Community Outreach Liaison
Rock County Job Center
1900 Center Avenue
Janesville, WI 53545
Phone (608) 314-3300, Ext. 306
Fax (608) 741-3528
E-mail: g.bosak@swwdb.org
A new program designed to match workers’ talents with open jobs has kicked off. Titled Work Today, the program focuses on employer-needed job skills matched to job seeker skills and competencies.
“Central to our approach is our private sector employer skill development alliance, called the Work Today Employer Alliance, that will identify job skill requirements and essential qualifications,” explained Randall Upton, President of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce. The Beloit Chamber is working with the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB), Community Action, Inc., Manpower, Inc., and other community partners in response to the concept of a skills center in Rock County. In addition, legislators such as Amy Loudenbeck, Janis Ringhand and Tim Cullen have been supporting the program.
“This program is employer-centered,” said SWWDB Executive Director Dr. Robert T. Borremans. “The employer is the primary client rather than potential employees, which should lead to a far more effective effort in matching skills needed to those of the job seekers,” he added.
A ceremony held at the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce/Visit Beloit center on May 17 officially launched the program, although stakeholders have been meeting for months laying the groundwork.
Among the initial businesses participating are DuPont, Kerry Ingredients, Cotta Transmission, Beloit Memorial Hospital/Health Services, Blackhawk Transport, and Regal Beloit, with A T & T’s Director of External Affairs Tricia Conway also presenting a financial contribution through the A T & T Foundation. These employers will clearly communicate their skill needs to program administrators, who will assess clients, determine the best methods of reaching them, and place them in appropriate programs.
“Rock County has had more than its share of employment problems during the past few years, and while things are slowly improving, the Beloit area continues to be particularly hard-hit,” said Eloise Anderson, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. “It is ironic that although many employers have job openings, they cannot find qualified workers.”
She sees the program as one which could assist the chronically under- and unemployed, and it could serve as a blueprint for similar programs in other hard-hit parts of the state. “While past plans have attempted to train clients first, then try to find openings for them, in this program potential employees would be given specific training for job openings that already exist,” she added.
Project participants will include adult job seekers interested in obtaining the knowledge and skills needed to obtain employment, including individuals with limited experience and/or no previous work history. The plan calls for the recruitment of employers with job openings to join the employment alliance, targeting job candidates in the community capable of filling the job and work-based learning on specific job skills.
Alliance membership is open to any private-sector company who is actively engaged in hiring and seeking to recruit new workers. Members pay a fee based on the size of the company. An economic summit, which included a number of area employers, legislators and officials, established the alliance in early March. Job Center Case Managers are currently interviewing job seekers and applicants to determine matches for the program.
Businesses interested in participating or desiring further information can contact Randall
Upton at (608) 313-1365 or (608), 312-3394 or at randallu@greaterbeloitchamber.com, or
SWWDB Business Services Coordinator Gail Graham at (608) 314-3300, Ext. 304, (608) 295-4887 or g.graham@swwdb.org.
