[Southsider2k12]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/business/s...0,2585541.story

WorkOne site closing in Michigan City
South Bend Tribune Staff Report

6:39 a.m. EDT, May 23, 2012
LAPORTE -- WorkOne is closing its site in Michigan City and relocating staff members to the existing WorkOne facility in LaPorte.

"We anticipate very few layoffs, if any," said Robyn Minton, vice president of operations for the Center of Workforce Innovations out of Valparaiso.

Services will remain in Michigan City with "access points" or sites providing access to WorkOne services online, Minton said.

Career counselors also will be placed in the A.K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City to work with students in vocational training programs on finding employment.

No date has been chosen on when the changes will take effect, but it should happen within the next few months, said Minton.

She said other WorkOne sites are closing and being merged with neighboring facilities because of anticipated reductions in state and federal revenue.

[Southsider2k12]

http://heraldargus.com/articles/2012/05/22...46569545348.txt

WorkOne office will close

By Ilene Haluska
Staff writer
Published: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:04 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — WorkOne Express in Dunes Plaza is planning to close and consolidate its services with La Porte WorkOne, although the time frame for the closing has not been determined.

WorkOne is looking to continue its services in La Porte County and Michigan City by partnering with multiple organizations, according to a recent update with Robyn Minton, vice president of Operations of The Center of Workforce Innovations, Valparaiso.

“We are creating access points where customers will be able to access virtual WorkOne services in a self-service mode,” Minton said. A list of these computer sites in Michigan City is expected to be available by the end of August.

Meanwhile Minton suggests people continue to go to the WorkOne in Michigan City until it closes, or go online to www.gotoworkonenw.com or go to the La Porte office, 300 Legacy Plaza West, (219) 362-2175, she said.

“Accessibility will be important,” added Barb Grimsgard, in communications with The Center Workforce Innovations.

WorkOne, a partner agency of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, “helps people find new or better jobs, choose a career, find a good employee, access training, or get the information needed to succeed in today’s ever-evolving workplace,” according to the state’s website, www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne.

According to Minton, a resident doesn’t need to be receiving employment benefits to use WorkOne. Even recent graduates could go there for career counseling, job searching and training.

WorkOne is supported by a combination of public and private resources, Minton said.

Minton said that with funding being reduced, WorkOne anticipates it will get less money for the 2012-13 fiscal year starting July 1 and years moving forward.

“We’re trying to keep the system as nimble as possible and allow customers to interact with our services in a multitude of ways,” Minton said.

Full-service WorkOne sites in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development are available in Portage or the city of La Porte.

Other sites in its seven county regional service area are Hammond and Gary.

All four of the facilities offer unemployment support, career support, career counseling, job services and co-located adult programs offer assistance for training for technical careers, certifications and financial support based on the job demands in its seven-county region: La Porte, Lake, Porter, Newton, Stark, Jasper and Pulaski counties.

“It’s really is a fiscal decision and the desire to meet customer service in a variety of ways,” Minton said.

[Ang]

That's because there are NO jobs around here and there is nothing for them to do......

So very very sad.

[eric.hanke]

This does not surprise me. Having visited the Michigan City WorkOne office I can verify the office cannot assist with any unemployment asssitance. There are a few computers you can use to file claims. However, there are no office staff to assist with filing your initial claim, process claim disputes, or complete grant applications. The Public Library offers the same service (i.e. computer use).



It's sad that the Work One office in Michigan City is closing. The closest office is on the very south side of LaPorte and is not accessible by bus for the residents of Michigan City.

[Ang]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/0...28652371969.txt

WORKONE MOVNG TO A.K. SMITH CENTER

Pelath, Arnold sent letters opposing consolidation plan
By Julie McClure
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, June 8, 2012 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Michigan City’s WorkOne Express will be moving to a new location within the A.K. Smith Career Center, 817 Lafayette St., rather than closing and consolidating its services with La Porte Work One, Indiana Department of Workforce Development officials said Thursday.

Earlier this spring, the department had said it was looking to continue its services in La Porte County and Michigan City by partnering with multiple organizations. Joe Frank, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said the A.K. Smith Career Center is one of WorkOne’s community partners, and is about one mile from the Michigan City WorkOne Express location in Dunes Plaza. The move has not been completed at this time, but will be soon, Frank said.

The news that the WorkOne Express would be retained in Michigan City comes after Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, and Sen. Jim Arnold, D-La Porte, both sent letters to Indiana Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Scott B. Sanders protesting the pending closure and asking that the department reconsider its decision.

“Given the high numbers of Michigan City residents who are out of work, looking for work, or significantly under-employed, the timing of this planned closure could hardly be worse,” Pelath wrote in his letter. “These folks are already struggling and making WorkOne services farther away and more costly to obtain is yet another burden on them.”

In a phone interview Thursday morning, Pelath said he would not willingly tolerate any diminishing of WorkOne services in Michigan City. “They did not consult any of the stakeholders in this before making this decision,” he said. “People need help right now. They want to work. By moving the assistance further away from them they are transferring the problems of the bureaucrats on to the people who need help.”

In his letter, Pelath added that he understood obligations to look for efficiencies and ways to do things better, “but I would argue that we are not contributing to broader community savings by merely transferring more opportunity costs to the unemployed.”

Frank did say that the initial decision to possibly consolidate services was in reaction to the possibility of WorkOne funding being reduced as soon as July 1, but that a decision has now been made to move the Express site to A.K. Smith and still provide all the services, just streamlining them through a community partner that can give the department a “better deal.”

A WorkOne Express office is not a full-service WorkOne facility, but does have basic services, including computers to help clients with filing unemployment claims, personnel to answer questions, and basic services. Job search workshops are offered in WorkOne full-service centers.

After learning of the department’s decision, Arnold reiterated that he and Pelath were very upset that the decision to consolidate was made without any consultation or prior notice to La Porte County officials.

“I was pretty dog-gone disappointed,” Arnold said.

Arnold said he was glad that the action is now just a move, but also said he will watch closely and make sure that Michigan City residents aren’t asked to go to La Porte when they don’t have the resources to do so because they are unemployed.

“I think people need to be aware that we’re not going to take this from the state – decisions being made without any consideration for the people being affected,” Arnold said. “We’re not going to take this sitting down.”

Pelath said he was still a bit skeptical after learning about the decision to move the office and will watch closely to make sure the department follows through on its commitment to keep the WorkOne Express office in Michigan City.

“The proof will be in the pudding,” he said. “I just feel the less change with respect to this issue would be in the best interests of the unemployed.”

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...6081a52e16.html

A push is being made to reopen a full-service Work One office in Michigan City, which closed several years ago.

A written request approved by the LaPorte County Commissioners is being submitted to the offices of both the governor and lieutenant governor.

The request is in response to a new requirement that Hoosier recipients of unemployment insurance benefits must visit their local WorkOne for a review of their work search records and an orientation to WorkOne services after their fourth week of benefits and make more periodic visits while still collecting benefits.

The Michigan City site was merged with the Work One office in LaPorte several years ago.

The commissioners say many recipients of unemployment insurance in Michigan City do not have their own vehicles and there is no public transportation between the communities.

"A city the size of Michigan City deserves a full service Work One office which had existed for decades," said LaPorte County attorney Shaw Friedman.

[diggler]

The country never really got of the recession that began back in 2008. Is it finally the time to utter the D-WORD ??

What is very evident is that the US Fed Reserve has been forced to react to global pressures as much as the quickening deterioration of US economic conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpykqYMUqVo

_

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...99b5ea81c0.html

Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY | A full-service Work One office will return to Michigan City, a move sought by local officials citing a greater need for easier access to services in a community still plagued by high unemployment.

Officials with Work One and LaPorte County reached an agreement that calls for a 1,450-square-foot facility owned by the county at 302 W. Eighth St. on the city's north side to be provided to Work One at no cost for at least two years.

Commission president Willie Milsap said utilities and furnishings inside the building also will come free of charge to the state.

Milsap said the need was especially heightened by a new requirement for people receiving unemployment compensation be interviewed at a Work One office for recertification of benefits.

Michigan City area residents were having to drive to the Work One branch in LaPorte since the local full service Work One office closed a few years ago in a move by the state to save on costs.

Milsap said an exact date has yet to be chosen for the facility to open but "we're looking to start at the first of the year."

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/jobs-and-...540816869b.html

Job seekers, take note: a new WorkOne employment office will open next week in Michigan City.

WorkOne is a statewide career and employment resource for both employers and job seekers. The Michigan City branch is located in the LaPorte County government Plaza at 302 W. 8th Street.

"The office will be open so that job seekers can receive assistance in their job search, learn about available employment opportunities, upgrade their skills, and become more competitive for positions in our local companies and throughout the region,” said Linda Woloshansky, president and CEO of The Center of Workforce Innovations.

The new office, which opens at 1:30 p.m. Monday, will regularly offer workshops on basic computer, customer, job search and interviewing skills.

"The County Commission is very enthused about this joint venture to bring a WorkOne office to county-owned office space located in the heart of Michigan City,” said La Porte County Commissioner President Willie Milsap.

The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

For information, call (219) 809-0575.