In Attendance
- Wolf Ametsbichler, Missoula Job Service
- Michelle Dorsey, Missoula Job Service
- Wendy Mair, REO
- Maggie Driscoll, Human Resource Council Dist. XI
- Jodi Rasmussen, Lifelong Learning Center
- Vida Wilkinson, Missoula College UM
- Janet Van Dyke, Vocational Rehabilitation
- George Palmer, Missoula Job Service
- Naomi Leifson, REO
- Marcy Allen, BREDD
- Sundee Carr, Missoula Pre-Release Center
Agenda/Updates
Possible Fall Cross Training Event
The group decided to formally discuss another cross training event this fall at the next CMT meeting. The cross training event may be held in October on a Thursday afternoon.
Updates
Janet – Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind ServicesVRB was not heavily affected by the sequester. Order of selection may be implemented soon. Order of selection involves rating a person’s level of disability and prioritizing service based on ratings.
Wendy – REO
REO is still waiting on some grants. Intake numbers will likely shrink slightly, but it should not be an issue.
Wolf – Missoula Job Service
Job orders are holding steady above 500. Some jobs are still very competitive, however many technical or highly skilled jobs are going unfilled. Wages have not begun to rise.
The Job Service is applying for a National Emergency Grant from the federal government. The grant would be half On-the-Job Training (OJT) money and classroom training funds. The Job Service should know the outcome of the grant in the end of June.
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) money continues at the same level of funding as before. There may be some additional limits for what counts as training. IWT is generally available for small businesses with less than 20 people in one location and less than 50 people statewide.
The Career Fair was successful. Several thousand people attended the event.
Marcy Allen – BREDD Presentation
Marcy Allen, Executive Director of the Bitter Root Economic Development District (BREDD) presented on BREDD’s recent activities. BREDD serves Missoula and Mineral Counties and offers a number of services aimed at economic development.
BREDD is funded by federal and state grants and private foundations. All projects BREDD undertakes must be economic development-based. Recently BREDD has worked with Hunting GPS, a company that makes maps of public and private land for hunters, and ALCOLM, an aluminum trailer manufacturer in Bonner.
BREDD just finished an economic gardening pilot program that encourages local entrepreneurs based on the idea that new job growth comes from new employers. The program has served 8 businesses so far. If job creation targets are met, only $700 - $1,000 was spent per job, a substantial savings compared to other methods of job growth.
A number of special projects are also in the works, including one that would attract Nordic skiing in the Seeley Lake area to increase economic activity in the winter.
Next meeting: Thursday, September 5 at 9:00 a.m.
