Thursday, March 28, 2024

NCRL and Workforce Development partnership continues, expands

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CHELAN - North Central Regional Library (NCRL) and Workforce Development have extended and expanded their partnership to offer monthly employment assistance at the Chelan Public Library.
People can come to the library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Monday of every month for one-on-one assistance with employment, education, training, and meeting basic needs. The next session will be March 9.
Walk-ins are welcome and assistance is available in English and Spanish.
The partnership began last fall with NCRL, WorkSource, SkillSource, Wenatchee Valley College, and OIC of Washington. It has now expanded to also include Chelan Douglas Community Action Council, Link Transit, and Chelan Valley Hope. In addition, several local employers who are currently hiring have joined the effort.
The number of people seeking help from the program has grown from 10-15 per month when it started to more than 40 people receiving services and information last month.
“If you’re looking for work, looking for a change, interested in training or education, or just need a little help, we would love the opportunity to meet with you,” said Ashley Olson, WorkSource Wenatchee Valley’s Strategic Programs Coordinator. “We are also excited to be partnering with local employers to be at these events, we hope to have at least 2-3 employers who are currently hiring to join us on each date.”
“Our Workforce Development partners are excited to continue to come together to serve individuals seeking assistance at the Chelan Public Library,” added Craig Carroll, WorkSource Wenatchee Valley’s Administrator. “We have been able to help people find jobs, get them enrolled in training programs, and meet some of their basic needs; we encourage anyone needing assistance to come in and meet with one of us.”
The collective partnership efforts are positively impacting the Chelan community. NCRL’s Adult Services Manager, Amanda Brack says, “It has been exciting to see what can be accomplished when we work together. Part of NCRL’s strategic plan is to build partnerships to strengthen communities. It has been incredible to see how we can leverage our library space to bring essential community resources to Chelan.”
In addition to the regional library’s support, the community has embraced the project and supported the team in their efforts. “For the past few years, we have shifted our focus to developing partnerships so that we can serve our community more effectively. We are now expanding this effort to rural communities and they have been incredibly welcoming,” said Amanda Bobbitt, SkillSource’s Trainer. “Chelan businesses and nonprofits have graciously offered assistance with outreach, coordination, and donations.”
Pastries and warm beverages are donated by Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery for attendees.

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