Bemidji Pioneer: Workforce takes to the road — New program brings services to job seekers

EXCERPT: “The Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program has a new strategy in delivering workforce services: bringing the program to the people. Over the past year, the nonprofit has implemented a mobile workforce program to offer services to job seekers in Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods counties. The mobile office concept includes a team leader, six job counselors and a clerical worker. ‘We started developing this strategy about 18 months ago, when we were notified by Beltrami County that they were going to perform their MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) in-house,’ said Program Manager Sue Hilgart. ‘We started to think about the rest of the region that’s included in the economic development area and how we could do a better job in delivering workforce abilities out to people, rather than having it just be focused in Bemidji.’ The result was the mobile program that puts staff on the road a minimum of four days a week, conducting outreach in Park Rapids, Bagley, Walker, Cass Lake, Baudette and Red Lake. The staff travel with equipment such as laptops, portable printers and scanners. The program is able to assist with online application as well as resume and cover letter writing.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2wCmQ9M