FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573) 751-0290
Blunt Says Missouri Career Centers Responding to Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
JEFFERSON CITY— In an effort to help Hurricane Katrina displaced Americans in Missouri rebuild their lives, Gov. Matt Blunt has directed the Department of Economic Development (DED) to make Career Center services available to help people find gainful employment.
The DED’s Division of Work Force Development has mobilized its 40 Missouri Career Centers and is making available its Internet-based jobs service known as Great Hires to help those displaced Americans in the state begin searching for jobs in Missouri. As many as 4,000 displaced Americans will make Missouri their permanent home, according to the Missouri National Guard.
"After emergency needs like shelter, food and clothes are met, skilled workers who are trying to start over in Missouri to provide for themselves and their families will need our help," Gov. Matt Blunt said. "Our role through the Department of Economic Development will be to connect displaced Americans with employment and training opportunities and connect businesses with a ready labor pool. Our one-stop career centers also will provide displaced Americans access to local, state and federal agencies that can provide additional assistance in this time of crisis."
The locations of Missouri’s Career Centers can be found at www.ded.mo.gov/wfd/wfds/frontpage.shtml. The directory of local workforce boards and Career Centers, as well as job search capability, can be found at www.greathires.org . Those seeking to contact Career Centers near them can call 1-888-728-5627 and they will be routed directly to the nearest center based on telephone prefix.
The Career Centers also can provide the most current labor market information and guidance to help displaced Americans. Personal computers at these "one-stops" are available for displaced workers to apply for assistance from their home states, look for temporary work in Missouri, prepare/update resumes and access other needed services/information provided on the web. In some areas, DED will be providing laptop internet capability at evacuee centers to speed up the process. The department also will be available to provide career counseling, job search assistance and application assistance to partner agencies. The department is currently checking various sources to determine the numbers of displaced Americans and will evaluate the need to target specific regions where the need is greatest.
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