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Job help coming to DeKalb

By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal

Published August 4, 2009

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate has risen sharply in the past year, but an event and a new resource opening on Friday will hopefully combat that, according to state officials.

To help assist those who have lost their jobs or may be looking for a career change, several state agencies will be on hand at a Retool and Retrain for Reemployment Expo that will take place at the Tom Bevill Lyceum on the campus of Northeast Alabama Community College. Registration for the 3R Expo begins at 9:30 a.m.

“Over the past two years, the area has suffered with some plant closings. This event is designed to help those displaced workers,” said Linda Bryan, director of marketing and communications with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development.

Presentations will focus on unemployment and employment services, including skills training available through the Workforce Investment Act, services available through the Alabama Career Center System, adult education and the training programs offered though the state’s two-year college system.

“It’s a really good opportunity for people in the area to get information,” said Northeast President David Campbell.

Bryan said speakers will include Governor’s Office of Workforce Development Director Matthew Hughes, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees and two-year college system Interim Chancellor Joan Davis.

““It’s difficult to deal with losing your job and the added stress of where to go for help,” said Hughes. “The 3R Expo has been designed to let people know they do have options even in these tough economic times and what those options are.”

Bryan said potential employers will be on hand, as well as the state’s mobile Job Link unit.

“A lot of times when someone loses their job, they don’t realize the opportunities that are out there,” Bryan said. “The event is a way to get the information out there on compensation, insurance, retraining and other services. With employers there, it’s a good networking opportunity.”

Fort Payne Career Center manager Linda McCain agreed.

“It will let the unemployed know what services are available to them,” McCain said. “It will also give employers the chance to find potential employees.”

Following the program, a ribbon cutting will be held at the new Rainsville Career Center, which is also located on the Northeast campus.

“There will be some readily available services there,” Campbell said. “Being on campus, it will allow us to work closely with them in workforce development. It will be a great resource.”

It’s the second career center to open in DeKalb County with the first in Fort Payne.

McCain will also serve as manager of the Rainsville Career Center.

Alabama’s career centers are designed to be a one-stop agency for both job seekers and employers. Services provided include career planning, financial assistance for training, job referral, basic skills training assistance, online job posting for employers, vocational rehabilitation services, veterans’ services, unemployment insurance information and referral to Family Support Services.

“We want to make the Career Centers easily accessible to people,” Bryan said. “We wanted to put this location on the Northeast campus so that if people wanted to get help from the college, the resources would be right there.”

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