Southwest Corner WDB
News Blast
Highlights:
· May 12th – Hosted the Washington County Re-entry Conference
· May 17th- May 20th – PA Workforce Development Association Conference
- Had the opportunity to attend a roundtable discussion with State Agency leaders about collaboration
- Attended an Employer lead roundtable about needs/skill gaps from the employer perspective
· May 31st – WDB meeting, increased OJT minimum, increased the summer program hourly wage and approved our regional and local transitional plans for submission to the Department of L&I
· June 7th –9th – Hosted Newtown Associates for WIOA board and staff –several ideas came from this training
- will redefine our committees for a better understanding to the board
- will implement an area wide Operator Consortium
- will create an area wide Business Service Team for employer engagement
· June 15th – Interviewed by Israeli Channel 10 in relation to the closing of our coal mines
· June 16th – met with our regional partners to address the recently released demand analysis for our area over the next 10 years. We will be partnering with them for an American Promise grant related to IT
· June 15th –June 16th- I met Carrie Amman, new director of BWPO and she visited all 4 of our PA CareerLinks
· June 24th – Hosted our Greene County Re-entry Conference
· June 29th- Hosted an energy sector partner meeting
- We will be doing a pre-apprenticeship for our area. We have been working with all of the Trades and Sunoco Logistics to develop a program that will help close the identified gaps in skilled workers and jobs in connection with the Shell Cracker Plant, Tanesco Power Plant and the Mariner East (2) pipeline
- We will have the curriculum ready to present by October for approval. Along with this, we are working with PA Apprenticeship office to develop an industry credential in unison with the pre-apprenticeship program
· July 6th- Met and interviewed by PBS news hour about the coal mine closings
· July 13th – Met with MDRC, we were selected for Greene County to be part of a pilot program through the W.K. Kellogg foundation in a Families Forward Program. Helping Non-Custodial Parents that have support payments through Domestic Relations, to increase skills for better employment, it will start July 2017
· We have started meeting with employers for the Industry Partnership funding
· We have begun the planning to do a healthcare Industry Proposal for the new program year, as well as our Advanced Manufacturing and Building and Construction IP’s.
· The Executive Committee met to redefine the WDB committees, minutes will be presented at the WDB meeting on August 30th
· July 15th- Talked with Social Policy Research Associates, our Mon Valley PA CareerLink has been selected to be part of an American Job Centers Institutional Research Study. It will take place the week of September 19th.
· July 27th -28th - WDB and Title I staff will be attending a Federal and State sponsored Peer to Peer file review. This will help us know what the feds and state will be looking for when they come. We were 1 of 10 selected from the 23 WDBs state wide
Beaver County
Highlights:
Our Business Services Team hosted a Benefiting and Bettering Your Business (B3) Employer Workshop for on during the quarter. Jamie Martine for Unemployment Compensation presented – “UC Suitable Work” Workshop. It was a great success and several employers and partners attended.
· On 06/14 Deborah Roach, Director Workforce Development and Dana Alverto, Program Assistant at Penn State Beaver gave an overview of the Continuing Education Programs. This included new programs geared to workforce development and engagement with Shell to develop programs
· On 06/16 Bureau of Workforce Development Partnership Director Carrie Amann visited PA CareerLink Beaver County and Job Training for Beaver Co., Inc. Site Administrator provided her with a tour of the facility as well as an overview of our partners and operations.
· We offered the first Budgeting/Credit Counseling Workshops at the PA CareerLink on June 2nd. Over 15 job seekers attended and the feedback was excellent. Our next workshop will be “Repairing Your Credit.”
· Site Administrator participated in a SWC Industry Partnership Team Meeting June 28th facilitated by WDB Director Ami Gatts and Keystone Development Partnership Director of Projects John Tkach. Upcoming meetings will be scheduled at the PA CareerLink offices to including employers interested in the IPs.
· Staff received notice that ATI Flat Rolled Products in Midland, PA and PTC Alliance, Inc. have been approved for Trade. PA CareerLink staff and Chester Lampman from Rapid Response Unit are coordinating Trade activities to be held in the end of July and August. All impacted workers will be offered a Benefits and Rights sessions along with Enrollment and Assessment sessions.
· Several PA CareerLink partner staff participated in mandatory WIOA training sponsored by our WDB and coordinated by Ami Gatts. Feedback was outstanding by all who attended. Staff have begun to implement the new WIOA mandates based on the training information.
· PA CareerLink will welcome two new employers in June and July who were on-site to recruit qualified applicants.
· Gateway Rehab –Now hiring MONITOR POSITIONS. Gateway’s Correctional Program in Aliquippa, Full Time | Part Time |Casual Hours, Competitive Wages & Benefit Package. REQUIRED: high school diploma/equivalent, valid driver’s license with favorable driving record, ability to pass PA Criminal & DOC Background Check, and strong leadership skills
· FedEx Ground – Now hiring Package Handlers for new facility located in Zelienople. Earn up to $12.10 per hour.
Upcoming Events:
· Our Job Fair Planning Committee has begun meeting and planning for our large Annual Job & Career Fair. The event will be held on October 27th in the Beaver Valley Mall.
· Site Administrator attended the Grand Opening event of the new Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Operating and Training Center located in Monaca on July 14th. The tour was highly informative and educational. Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania now has a central location to train its 800 employees on everything from checking meters to putting out fires.
· Site Administrator will be attending the Cultural Linguistics Committee Meeting at Beaver County Community College on July 21st.
Greene County
Highlights:
· 14 PA CareerLink® staff attended Workforce Development Board training presented by Greg Newton at the Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe on June 8th and 9th. The training covered the WIOA system changes and how they align with PA state plan and the SWC local plan.
· Israeli News visited the PA CareerLink on June 15th to interview Commissioner Blair Zimmerman, Ami Gatts, SWC Workforce Board Director, and Dave Baer, SWTS, Inc. Peer Counselor about the training and services provided for dislocated coal miners through the PA CareerLink®.
· PA Department of Labor and Industry Bureau Director, Carrie Amann, visited PA CareerLink® Greene County on June 15th. She toured the CareerLink® and met with BWPO (State) staff.
· PA CareerLink® staff participated in SCI Greene Job/Resource Fair (State Correctional Institution) on Wednesday, June 22nd.
· Southwest Training Services, Inc. hired a new Youth Case Manager, Robin King. The PA CareerLink® is a site for a youth worker this summer.
· The 1st Greene County Re-Entry Conference and Job Fair was held at the Greene County Fairgrounds on June 24th. President Judge Farley Toothman held court during the conference. During the Re-Entry Conference, the PA CareerLink® held a Job/Resource Fair. 45 vendors attended and 200 job seekers.
· New Partner: California University of PA will begin as a new partner in the PA CareerLink® Greene County on July 1st.
Mon Valley
Highlights:
- June 6 Trade Benefits Rights Information (BRI) meeting for 45 dislocated workers from DynoNobel.
- June 7 Gregg Staffing Solutions Hire Event- recruiting for Electronics Assembly and Shipping & Material Handling.
- June 8 & 9 WIOA Staff Training. Office was closed Wednesday June 8 for staff to attend training.
- All partner staff attended sessions with positive feedback received by all who participated.
- June 15th – Operator Consortium/Site Administrator Meeting for this site.
- June 17th – Industry Specific Job Fair- In Home Healthcare 1PM- 3:30PM onsite at PACL MV.
- 8 employers participated
- Very low job seeker turnout – Many individuals called or advised staff when onsite that they would attend, but only 4 actually came with resumes in hand and ready for an interview. Two reported back that they received tentative job offers.
- June 21 & 22 Workplace Violence Prevention Training for staff offered onsite with two sessions available. The training was provided by Labor & Industry’s Bureau of Workforce Partnership and Operations. All partner staff from PA CareerLink® MV and Washington County attended.
- June 27th- Southwest Training Services Inc. Youth Summer Program started. PACL Mon Valley has 2 youth working onsite in the CRC (Career Resource Center) as Customer Service/Greeters and 2 working with the Senior Employment Title V program staff on learning computer basics. The intergenerational Computer classes start on July 5, 2016.
- June 30th- New partnerships for PACL MV beginning July 1, 2016
- Shale Energy Institute became a 0.2 FTE RSAB partner. Shale Energy was a Fee for Service Partner from January 2016 through June 30th, 2016.
- Rosedale Tech – became a 0.2 FTE RSAB partner beginning July 1, 2016. Rosedale Tech was a Fee for Service partner from January 2016 through May 31st, 2016.
- Pittsburgh Technical Institute became Pittsburgh Technical College as of July 1, 2016. With this status change, PTC will continue same training programs with additions including Associate Degrees.
- Barriers EEO1 screen in Job Gateway webinar occurred on June 22, 2016. All staff working with job seekers in Computer Resource Center (CRC) participated in this training.
Upcoming Events:
- Inner office training – Partner school updates
- July 5th – Intergenerational Computer Classes are available to the senior workforce. A series of 5 Advanced Classes begin July 5, with a Beginner series to start on July 6. A second series of both Beginner and Advanced classes will be offered, starting July 21.
- July 20th – Small Business Start-up workshops begin. Part 1 includes the basic mechanics of a start-up. Part 2 will be offered in August.
Washington County
Highlights:
- June 7th and 8th – All PA CareerLink® staff participated in WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) training. The PACL Washington County was closed on June 7th for the training. Normal PACL business hours on the second day training as it was only ½ day training.
- June 7th – A Rapid Response Meeting for workers was offered onsite at Align Network located in Canonsburg.
- June 15th – An Operator Consortium meeting was held for this site.
- June 22- Staff attended the LMC (Local Management Committee) meeting for the EARN program.
- June 28- Staff participated in a meeting on the Industry Partnership program. Included were future plans to spearhead outreach efforts at the PA CareerLink® sites to educate employers on the advantages of participation.
- Mancan Staffing hiring event was offered onsite every Friday seeking to fill various positions.
- Valley National Security were onsite Tuesdays and Thursdays for regularly scheduled hiring events for Security Guards. The position is J.O. #9997805 on Job Gateway.
- A representative from the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center was onsite twice to meet with individuals interested in a business start-up.
- June 21st and June 22nd – Workplace Violence Training sessions were offered on both days offsite at PACL Mon Valley. Staff alternated the day of attendance to have full PACL office coverage.
Upcoming events:
- Mancan Staffing hiring event was offered onsite every Friday seeking to fill various positions.
- Valley National Security were onsite Tuesdays and Thursdays for regularly scheduled hiring events for Security Guards. The position is J.O. #9997805 on Job Gateway.
- July 1- Pittsburgh Technical Institute became Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC). With this status change, PTC will continue to offer the current training programs and also offer Bachelor Degree programs.
- Intergeneration Computer classes will be offered onsite. The Summer Youth program participants will offer basic and advanced computer classes using Microsoft programs for individuals over age 60. This is a joint collaborative effort working with the senior employment program.
Highlights:
- Director Rick Riley and Program Manager Rich Strother participated in a SWC Industry Partnership Team Meeting June 28th facilitated by WDB Director Ami Gatts and Keystone Development Partnership Director of Projects John Tkach.
- Director Rick Riley and Program Manager Rich Strother participated in an Apprenticeship Preparation conference call meeting June 29th facilitated by WDB Director Ami Gatts. Western PA Builders Guild Director Jason Fincke and representatives from Sunoco Logistics. The meeting participants discussed projects requiring union apprentices, the number and type of apprentices needed, and the possibility of our WDA developing a pre-apprenticeship program to create a pipeline of qualified apprenticeship applicants.
- Beaver County NAACP invited Director Rick Riley to present information about services available through the CareerLink, as well as Job Training for Beaver County at an event hosted by Aliquippa High School.
- JTBC Business Marketing Representative Joe Postich participated in a BizBlast employer networking event June 30th at the Ambridge Regional Distribution & Manufacturing Center sponsored by the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce
- Program Manager Rich Strother and Regional Rapid Response Coordinator Chester Lampman presented information on design and effectiveness of our local Enrollment and Assessment process in serving large groups of Trade impacted dislocated workers during a conference call meeting facilitated by BWPO Rapid Response Supervisor Ruben Pachay July 6th. The Northwest Workforce Development Area has been impacted by a large dislocation at General Electric and are planning to implement our process.
- JTBC offered the following classes in June: Pre-Healthcare, National Retail Certification Credential and Drivers Training.
- Orientation was held for those youth who are participating in summer work experiences. All paperwork, a Work Readiness Class, a financial literacy component and TABE testing were completed.
- Position request forms continued to be received and work site contracts were completed. We are always looking to add work sites to our existing list. Two new worksites were added. Phone calls were made to connect and place participants with their prospective worksites.
- All WIOA staff participated in mandatory WIOA training.
Upcoming Events:
- Program Manager Rich Strother will participate in a US Department of Labor Peer-to-Peer WIOA Monitoring Review Session along with WDB Director Ami Gatts and SWTS Vice President Cindy Derrico July 27-28 in Harrisburg.
- Program Manager Rich Strother and Business Marketing Representative Joe Postich will serve on the PA CareerLink Beaver County Annual Job and Career Fair planning committee in preparation for the October 27th event at the Beaver Valley Mall.
- Job Training for Beaver County Management and Business Services Unit are invited to participate in Columbia Gas Grand Opening and Tour of their new operations center and training facility July 14th.
- The Transportation and Logistics Camp will be held at JTBC and includes speakers, class projects and tours. The Construction Camp will be held at BCCTC where our youth will once again have a project for the Senior Gardens. This year’s project will be building 10 portable benches that can be used throughout the Senior Gardens.
- A summer intern from Slippery Rock University was hired for the summer youth program and will be assisting with the site contracts and performing site monitoring visits.
- A summer temporary employee was hired to facilitate the JTBC Transportation, Logistics and Construction camps. She will work with the summer intern to instruct and oversee the camps, organize transportation and schedule and assist with field trips.
- The first week of July will be dedicated to ensure all eligible youth have been place at worksites. All fiscal paperwork will be completed to reflect the new pay rate. Site visits and evaluations will begin in mid-July, although we remain in constant communication with the worksites on a weekly basis.
Highlights:
- New Staff: Robin King was hired on June 6th as a Youth Case Manager in our Greene County location. Prior to retiring, Robin was the Sr. Vice President of Enrollment & University Relations at Waynesburg University. She will be replacing Jillian Chappel, who will be leaving at the end of August to attend Grad School.
- Employee Status Change: Aimee Trunzo has resigned from her full-time position as a Case Manager/Operations Specialist. She will remain as a part-time hourly employee, working approximately one-day per week as an Operations Specialist. The Case Manager position is now posted on the PA CareerLink® site. We have held interviews – but are still looking for the appropriate candidate.
- Dave Baer, Peer Counselor is regularly attending community events to reach out to the dislocated miners. He has also been interviewed by NPR, Israeli TV and PBS regarding the impact of the mining layoffs.
- Retal Industries Ltd. of Cyprus will open its first American plant and its U.S. headquarters as Retal PA LLC in the former Spartech-Polycom building in Donora. Retal makes plastic preforms and high-density lids and closures for the food and beverage industry. The company plans to start with 43 employees to begin operations in the fall and employ 88 people in three years. They plan to become operational by October-November. Retal’s customers are major beverage distributors.
Upcoming Events:
- PA CareerLink® Greene County Operator meeting was held on May 27th & the Washington Co. and Mon Valley Operator meetings were held on June 15th
- Greene County Reentry Conference/Job Fair was held at the Greene County Fair Grounds on June 24th. 45 Vendors/Employers and approx. 200 attendees.
- Submitted TANF Summer Youth Plan for Washington/Greene counties. We received an additional Summer Allocation of $88, 138.00. Submitted TANF Youth Regular Plan, SWTS received $124,866.50
- Our SWTS Youth are conducting Intergenerational Computer Classes which are available to the senior workforce - both Beginner and Advanced classes are being offered
- WIOA Training for all Southwest Corner CareerLink staff and WDB members. Greg Newton – presenter – June 7, 8 and 9.
- Summer Programming: Summer Managers, Monitor and Crew Leader began working on June 6, 2016 to prepare for the work experience component. Youth began working on June 27th. All other activities reported at the May WDB meeting have begun as well.
- Lisa Neil attended a Washington County Corrections Department event on June 6th. PA Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel was the speaker.
Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board
Email: agatts@washingtongreene.org
Website: southwestcornerwdb.com
Location: 351 West Beau Street, Washington, PA, United States
Phone: (724) 229-5083
Twitter: @SCWIB