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CITY, N.D. – (NewsDakota.com) The closure of the Valley City Job Service office is a significant disappointment for employers and employees within the region.
Federal funds support salaries entirely and have been continuously cut over the past 20 years; however, this round was more extensive than originally anticipated for Job Service employees.
The following is a news release issued by Valley City Barnes County Economic Development Executive Director Jennifer Feist. She says compounding the problem for Valley City-Barnes County are cutbacks at the offices that will remain open around the state.
Starting immediately the Fargo office will provide services twice a month at a location in Valley City. After June 30, 2016 Valley City will no longer have local services available to users.
Feist says the Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation is highly concerned about these events, and has begun reviewing the situation to identify what can be done to help close the gap and how.
Early ideas include a public/private partnership although no type of structure or plan has been sketched out. The Corporation is interested in learning more about the needs, ideas and potential solutions (contact us at vdg@hellovalley.com or 701-840-7820).
She says we have more questions than answers, but clearly as a community, we need to respond. The importance of building relationships cannot be overstated. This is underscored by the direct connection and services that Valley City Job Service employees provided.
Businesses and users want and need the ability to ask questions and engage with professional staff. How we replace personal service provided will present a challenge but one that is a priority to address.
In addition, the Corporation has requested the website be made more user friendly and will also ask that on-line and recorded or unattended telephone prompts be improved as well.
Feist says the impact to new companies that want to locate in Valley City-Barnes County is a significant concern and must also be addressed. Job Service is the primary contact for reaching candidates looking for employment opportunities. It serves as a confidential depository of resumes.
Individuals may want to keep their employment options open or maybe discouraged workers who quit looking, but would like to be contacted should something come up that fits their skills and expectations and provides a challenging and rewarding opportunity.
The current closures are a result of Federal cuts and the State decided to not step in to provide temporary funds to support current staffing levels for the State especially during the height of the claims season.
Large layoffs are occurring throughout the State in the oil patch and in seasonal occupations such as construction and ag-related businesses. Workers affected will be forced to wait an extended period of time as a result of staff reductions to receive much needed benefits.
The Development Corporation will request Senators Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven and Congressman Kevin Kramer work with their colleagues to restore Federal funding for staffing.
Jennifer Feist is the executive director for the Valley City Barnes County Economic Development Corporation.