In Attendance
- Wolf Ametsbichler, Missoula Job Service
- Will Bodle, Rural Employment Opportunities
- Chris Clasby, Summit Independent Living Center
- Michelle Dorsey, Missoula Job Service
- Maggie Driscoll, Human Resource Council District XI
- Kathy Dutton, Council Groves Apartments
- Gisele Forrest, Council Groves Apartments
- Monique Fortmann, Lifelong Learning Center
- Kristi Harman, Missoula Job Service
- Emily Hoover, Mountain Home Montana
- Jeannine Lovell, Homeword
- Adam Ragsdale, Missoula Housing Authority
- Thomas Smith, WORD
- Vida Wilkinson, Missoula College UM
Agenda
Mountain Home Montana
Emily Hoover is program coordinator for the Supported Employment program. This program helps Mountain Home’s clients to find new employment or re-enter the workforce using 10 evidence-based principles, including job development.Americans with Disabilities Act 25th Anniversary
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed on July 26, 1990, has had a huge impact on employment for people with disabilities. In celebration, the Legacy Bus Tour is traveling the country and will make four stops in Montana: Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula. The tour will spend the 4th of July in Missoula, and a celebration is planned in Caras Park. The Big Sky Film Festival will also showcase a number of films celebrating disability in honor of the ADA.Discussion ensued regarding theming this years’ career fair to recognize the achievements of the ADA. The event will not be themed, but a corner will be dedicated to honor the act and educate the public.
Western Montana’s Largest Career Fair 2015
Planning for this years’ career fair has begun. It will be held on Tuesday, April 21 from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on North Reserve. Veterans will be admitted a half hour early again. Table registrations will cost $125; late registrations after April 10, will cost $195. The fair went smoothly last year, and Missoula Job Service is anticipating another excellent event. The Hilton has been reserved through 2016.Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Regulations for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), passed last summer, are not expected until later in the spring. It’s still unclear whether organizations will need to RFP again. The Dislocated Worker and Adult programs at Missoula Job Service are funded through WIOA. Rural Employment Opportunities (REO) is also affected. Most organizations are waiting for more guidance from the federal government.CMT Directory Update
Copies of the latest CMT directory were passed around. Please ensure that your organization’s contact information is correct. If changes are needed, please email Michelle with the new information.Updates
Missoula Job Service
The economy did well last year, and Missoula Job Service expects next year to be better. The office is currently seeing a seasonal slowdown in employment. Labor shortages may increase in the spring with the warmer weather. Wages are also starting to increase. Higher wages are positive for workers, but may hurt those businesses who cannot afford to pay more.Internally, Missoula Job Service has seen several key retirements in the past few years. Marcia Horton retired last fall, and supervisor George Palmer plans to retire at the end of March. Job Service is pleased to welcome Caryle Markum to the office. She will take over George’s supervisor role in programs. She brings a background in working with multiple industries from her time with Express Employment Professionals.
Missoula Job Service is continuing to shift from serving job seekers to reaching out to schools and the business community. An effort to present apprenticeships to high school students as an alternative to college or dropping is underway, but liability is an issue. On-the-Job Training (OJT) is also in focus with several recent success stories.
A number of workshops have been developed to assist job seekers. Many job seekers have very limited computer skills and are struggling with their job search because of it.
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) funds have been exhausted. Employers interested in IWT funds for employee training can still apply to be added to the waitlist. IWT funding should be replenished this summer, pending approval by the state legislature.
Lynn Talarico has been recognized as a Nationally Certified Resume Writer by the National Resume Writers’ Association. She is one of only 42 in the country, and the second in Montana.
The state will be transitioning their online application process to a new system on January 31. Anyone who has application information stored in the current system should save their materials to their computer as user accounts and past applications will not transfer over.
Missoula Job Service has two laptops available to give away to any non-profit for public use purposes. Please contact Wolf if interested.
Job Service is also coordinating services with the Poverello Center to avoid duplication. Other organizations are welcome to join the conversation. Contact Wolf if you would like to be a part of the discussion.
Missoula Housing Authority
Vantage Villa is still under construction with work moving towards the interior of the building. Missoula Housing Authority (MHA) anticipates it will be complete in June. MHA is exploring construction of a six-plex.Human Resource Council District XI
Pending WIOA regulations affect the Youth program offered through the Human Resource Council. The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) runs through April 30. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Human Resource Council’s.Summit Independent Living Center
Winter classes are starting soon.WORD
It’s business as usual at WORD. Parents as Teachers is looking for families. Rental assistance money may be exhausted within a month. WORD’s clients seem to be having an easier time finding work.Missoula College UM
Jane Baker is serving as the interim dean for Missoula College, and Penny Jakes is serving as interim associate dean. Overall the college is doing well. Vida Wilkinson is the point of contact on a new $15 million grant. The CNA class started this week, with a waitlist. Mickey Lyngholm is working partly on outreach for the college.Council Groves Apartments
Gisele Forrest recently joined Council Groves, a 72-unit low income property. Council Groves is seeing an increase in people from out-of-state who have jobs but are unaware of resources in our area. A public computer lab is available for walk-in use, and a community room is available for reservation. There’s no charge to use the community room and Wi-Fi is available. Please contact Gisele to reserve the community room or for further details.Homeword
Homeword’s next Financial Fitness starts Saturday. Homebuyer education classes are filling up fast. Homeword is trying to do more focused budgeting classes instead of having one long course. Contact Jeanne or Kelly for more information. Homeword is looking at new projects in Billings and possibly Missoula in the future.The Lifelong Learning Center
The Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) is waited on updated regulations for WIOA. Renovations were completed over the winter break and the Wi-Fi system has been upgraded. The new session started this week and enrollment is great. LLC is fully staffed.Mountain Home Montana
Mountain Home has 19 enrollees. Nine are working, six are working towards their educational goals and the rest are searching for work.Rural Employment Opportunities (REO)
REO is seeing two to three walk-in per week thanks to partnerships in the community, and the number of clients has gone from two to 32. The goal is to have 50 people enrolled.REO is working to set up a work experience program for CNAs in Missoula and Hamilton to meet demand. Details are still being hammered out, but once a person is identified, REO will pay 17.5 weeks wages. Individual employment plans will be set up with options to work towards phlebotomy, LPN or even RN licensure.
Eighteen spots are available in the Access Opportunities program. To qualify, a person must meet TANF qualification requirements.
REO has streamlined everything and reduced enrollment time to two hours.
