PRESS RELEASE

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment • 633 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1200 • Denver, CO 80202 •

(303) 318-8004 • Fax: (303) 318-8870

Date:                 January 11, 2008

Contact:             Office of Government, Policy and Public Relations

Phone:              (303) 318-8004

Fax: (303) 318-8070

 Web: www.coworkforce.com or http://www.yourworkforcecenter.com/YumaWFC.htm

YUMA WORKFORCE CENTER RELOCATES
TO NEW OFFICES

To better respond to the needs of both employers and job seekers, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has relocated the Yuma Workforce Center from 215 South Main Street to new office space in Quintech Center at 529 North Albany Street, Suite 1210.  The phone number (970) 848-3760 will remain unchanged after the move.

“Even though we’re only moving a short distance around the corner, we’re excited about the opportunities this move will provide us,” says staff member Janine Groves.  “The building is the former site of Morris Primary School and we have gorgeous remodeled facilities.  Our space is roomier, allowing us to better serve customers.  For instance, we now have two conference rooms available to us each month for presentations and our Resource Center is in a much larger area with computers set up for public use.”

The Yuma Workforce Center is part of the Eastern Workforce Region which also includes offices in Fort Morgan, Akron, Burlington, Elizabeth, Limon, Sterling, Wray and satellite Workforce Centers with limited office hours in Holyoke and Julesburg.  Celia Hardin, director of the Eastern Region, explains that Workforce Centers provide much more than job search and placement assistance.

“Job placement is still available to all customers with no eligibility requirements, but we also bring together a comprehensive menu of job training, education, and employment services.  Our focus is on meeting businesses’ need for a skilled workforce and in providing the training, education, and employment needs of job seekers who will comprise that workforce,” she says.

Job seekers may receive a preliminary assessment of their skill levels, aptitudes and abilities.  They can also obtain information on a wide array of employment-related services, including local education and training options.  Individuals may also receive help evaluating their eligibility for job training and academic programs, including GED assistance.

Individual responsibility and personal decision-making is promoted as never before, through the use of Individual Training Accounts which allow job seekers to select the training they determine is best for them.  It’s a market-driven approach that enables job seekers to get the skills and credentials they need to succeed.

While the Yuma Workforce Center is part of a statewide network of employment and training offices, it is also very much a part of the community in which it operates.  Local businesses play an active role in ensuring that the center is meeting their needs. Employers across Yuma County can turn to the Workforce Center for customized recruiting, screening of skilled applicants, on-the-job training incentives, assistance with tax credits and information on employment law.

The Yuma office is part of a national workforce preparation and employment system designed to meet both the needs of the nation’s businesses and the needs of job seekers and those who want to further their careers. “For employers, we offer the tools needed to find the right employee. For job seekers, we provide the tools to build a better future,” Hardin says. “We look forward to continuing to work with the people of our community.”

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