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Job service center to close
By DAVE SEATON
The job service center at Strother Field will close at the end of the year.
Keith Lawing, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, told a meeting of the Cowley First advisory committee this morning that the decision to close the center came because of cuts in the alliance’s budget and reduced use of the center.
The alliance has been paying $50,000 to rent space in the building south of the terminal building at Strother Field and paying a reduced staff. The alliance’s budget has been cut from $5.5 to $2.8 million, Lawing said.
The number of job seekers currently coming to the center is down to 12 per week, according to Lawing.
He said the alliance would be looking for an alternative site, one that would be less expensive. “I would hope this is not a permanent condition,” Lawing said.
The center at Strother Field opened about 10 years ago and has undergone several changes in structure and staffing as manpower programs in the state have been reorganized. Contract agencies have come and gone at the center.
Much of the activity there involves computer searches for job opportunities, Lawing said. Arkansas City Commissioner Dotty Smith asked him if more job seekers were using home computers instead of going to the center, and Lawing agreed.
He also pointed to the recession. “I think for another thing, it’s the economy,” he said. The Strother Field site may also be out of the way for too many job seekers, Lawing speculated.
A year and a half ago, employers like General Electric, with operations at the field, were eager to see the job center active there and made use of it. In a period of manpower shortages, the alliance had reoriented its mission to serve both employers and job seekers.
The alliance has reduced staff at its center in Wellington and is considering leasing space it has in a downtown Wichita building, Lawing said. The Wellington, El Dorado and Wichita centers will remain open, he said.
Staff and hours at the Workforce Development Center at Strother Field have been sharply reduced in the past 18 months. The center is open only Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to its telephone message.
Among the personnel who work at the center are Tammy Brown of the alliance, Sandra Howard of MidCap, the regional economic assistance organization, and Dave Galliart, employed by the alliance as a regional business representative.
The staff was a large as seven earlier, Lawing said.
The center could not be reached by telephone after 11:00 a. m. Thursday morning.
Keith Lawing, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, told a meeting of the Cowley First advisory committee this morning that the decision to close the center came because of cuts in the alliance’s budget and reduced use of the center.
The alliance has been paying $50,000 to rent space in the building south of the terminal building at Strother Field and paying a reduced staff. The alliance’s budget has been cut from $5.5 to $2.8 million, Lawing said.
The number of job seekers currently coming to the center is down to 12 per week, according to Lawing.
He said the alliance would be looking for an alternative site, one that would be less expensive. “I would hope this is not a permanent condition,” Lawing said.
The center at Strother Field opened about 10 years ago and has undergone several changes in structure and staffing as manpower programs in the state have been reorganized. Contract agencies have come and gone at the center.
Much of the activity there involves computer searches for job opportunities, Lawing said. Arkansas City Commissioner Dotty Smith asked him if more job seekers were using home computers instead of going to the center, and Lawing agreed.
He also pointed to the recession. “I think for another thing, it’s the economy,” he said. The Strother Field site may also be out of the way for too many job seekers, Lawing speculated.
A year and a half ago, employers like General Electric, with operations at the field, were eager to see the job center active there and made use of it. In a period of manpower shortages, the alliance had reoriented its mission to serve both employers and job seekers.
The alliance has reduced staff at its center in Wellington and is considering leasing space it has in a downtown Wichita building, Lawing said. The Wellington, El Dorado and Wichita centers will remain open, he said.
Staff and hours at the Workforce Development Center at Strother Field have been sharply reduced in the past 18 months. The center is open only Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to its telephone message.
Among the personnel who work at the center are Tammy Brown of the alliance, Sandra Howard of MidCap, the regional economic assistance organization, and Dave Galliart, employed by the alliance as a regional business representative.
The staff was a large as seven earlier, Lawing said.
The center could not be reached by telephone after 11:00 a. m. Thursday morning.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of winfieldcourier.com.
Devon wrote on Nov 19, 2009 5:23 PM:
" You would think they could find office space for less than 4100 a month. Thats ridiculous. "
Cynic wrote on Nov 20, 2009 5:23 AM:
" Such irony...those assisting others to find employment will be looking for jobs themselves. "
lucky to be employeed wrote on Nov 20, 2009 7:41 AM:
" I am very fortunate and blessed to be employeed in these trying times. that said, with unemployment reaching levels not seen for years, it is suprising to see so few people making use of the center's services. I am afraid some unemplyed folks are in that position because they lack the skills needed to seek and find a job. We need to do a better job of reaching out and teaching the skills needed to find meaningful emplyment. "
Ann wrote on Nov 20, 2009 9:11 AM:
" about 2 years ago i went out there to find a job. filled out the paperwork, checked back with them, did all i was asked and 2 years later still waiting for them to find me a job. Actually still waiting for them to even call me. i stopped going there after 3 month's of them not even seeming to try and find me anything. i put forth effort but saw none in return. I am an educated person with a college degree and much experience in many areas so i am sure there was something available at some point. Maybe they need to revamp their system and actually find people jobs and word of mouth would get more than 12 a week to stop in. just my opinion. "
mimi wrote on Nov 20, 2009 4:49 PM:
" Why not combine the center with the local SRS buildings. I am sure they have plenty of space and the computer hook ups are already there on site. Since Kansas is a work first state those who apply for benefits could also apply for jobs too. "
Jason wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:55 AM:
" I agree with Ann, I have tried several times to obtain employment at this center, fill out this paper and we will call you..... no call, nothing.... Every time I went out there I had to give them my information and they had to enter it in the computer again. Maybe this is why no one goes there to apply or use the service to look for employees. revamp and relocate. SRS is a good Idea / location "
CS wrote on Nov 24, 2009 12:48 PM:
" Anyone who has gone out there for assistance can tell you that they don't provide any help in finding a job. They give you the papers to fill out and direct you to the computer. You can do that from home or any place you can access the internet! Other job service centers actually talk to you, find out about your skills and interests, and attempt to pair you with an employer. I know of several people who've never gotten a call back from this center, though they are supposed to be the community resource for employment. They do nothing to assist in job placement. Maybe this is poetic justice. "
Kandi wrote on Nov 19, 2009 4:09 PM: