East Main Street Jobs & Career Center’s business is helping business
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: April 10, 2009
The Ventura County Human Services Agency and its East Main Street Jobs & Career Center are ready to serve almost any business need, representatives told the Good Morning Santa Paula! crowd at the March meeting.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The Ventura County Human Services Agency and its East Main Street Jobs & Career Center are ready to serve almost any business need, representatives told the Good Morning Santa Paula! crowd at the March meeting. The Medicine Shoppe/Amani Hishmeh hosted the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event held at Logsdon’s at the Airport.
Chamber President/CEO John Blanchard noted the Council’s concerns over the high unemployment rate led to a meeting between the Chamber, city, human services agency and the center. “We learned that the county has so many programs” that most businesses, he added, are not aware of.
Jobs & Career Center Executive Director Art Hernandez detailed the programs available at the center, especially those targeted to job seekers and employers. “There are plenty of funds and opportunities” available through the county agency including the Learn to Earn program, which helps employers with everything from doing background checks to providing free employees.
“Your commitment to us” is that the worker will spend 32 hours on the job with “everything covered by the county - what we need from you is to train them and help them transition” into the workforce. Hernandez said employees are not placed “unless we feel they are ready to work,” and there is no obligation for the employer to retain the employee post program. “We would like you to,” but, noted Hernandez, “we want something for them to put on a resume” to show employment background as well as any skills acquired.
The agency also works on economic development through job training that utilizes other agencies, colleges and technical schools. There are also youth programs that arrange employment internships. “We have great partners,” including the city and Police Department, who are welcome to use center meeting rooms in the community friendly county facility as needed.
Sam Castillo said the agency can and will help businesses on many levels through programs that serve first time job seekers as well as “downsized” and now out of work professionals. “I do the rapid response for the county” dispatched to companies facing layoffs to help the business as well as the employees. “If you’re downsizing don’t hesitate to call us... you already paid for our services with your tax dollars.”
Those who need employee job training or skill enhancements will also find programs geared to their needs. “If you have a need, you’re not going to lose anything by giving us a call,” and Hernandez said a goal is to ensure “the business community knows we’re available. We’re your silent partner... and we don’t want to get involved in your business, but we want to help your business. Whatever the need, it just needs to be identified” and the agency will work to fulfill same.
Castillo said other benefits include employer tax credit incentive programs, among many other programs businesses should explore.
“There are some amazing programs” Blanchard said are available to businesses to help train employee, as the county “pays childcare, transportation,” Workers Compensation and other expenses for those the employer can - but is not obligated to - hire in the future.
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