The WorkOne Centers in Northwest Indiana are a most valuable and cost-effective contact point for businesses looking for the right people, and people seeking the right job or career. It is the one place to go to find work and workers." We need to understand how we fit into a global marketplace and strategically plan for where we should be as a region.

Innovation and entrepreneurship should lead our economic development, but we must improve the workforce capacity," says Keith Kirkpatrick, Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (NWIWB) member and owner of KPM Group, Inc.

For employers, WorkOne offers businesses cost-effective, convenient access to thousands of job seekers, plus candidate screening, job fairs, and other recruiting services. WorkOne offers valuable labor market information, and tips on how to qualify for grants and tax credits. They even have onsite facilities for recruitment, training and testing.

For job seekers who may be considering a change in employment, or developing a plan for their career can utilize WorkOne Northwest Indiana as their source for information, referrals, placement assistance and other services.

WorkOne offers job seekers an innovative, robust website, IndianaCareerConnect.com, where they may post their resume, conduct a comprehensive job search, explore career options, and research the job market. All of these services are available free of charge. Additional highlights are available on the site under job seeker services and at www.gotoworkonenw.com.

BUSINESS SERVICES:

AN HR TEAM TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER

WorkOne Business Services Representatives provide employers with quick and easy access to all of WorkOne's services, facilities, information, tools and resources. Our industry experts help determine your workforce development needs. These activities include: managing job orders and helping with screening and referring qualified candidates; providing access to job fairs and employer forums; and supplying information on services such as WorkKeys, job profiling, training, business grants and incentives. There is no fee for working with WorkOne Business Services Representatives. Helping clients manage through tough economic times and prepare for market recovery is what WorkOne is all about.

For young people, WorkOne even has special resources, including all types of career materials, Internet links, job fairs, and other resources to help them find a great job, or plan their career. The youth section of the website has all they need to get started and follow through.

The WorkOne centers serve individuals and businesses from seven counties across Northwest Indiana. WorkOne Centers are conveniently located in Northwest Indiana to provide a wide range of employer, job seeker, and youth services.

MEET THE NORTHWEST INDIANA WORKFORCE BOARD The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board's (NWIWB) mission is to mobilize and integrate the leadership, services and resources of the community to support workforce development. This will be achieved by strategically planning and developing policy for workforce development; overseeing the workforce development system; developing and allocating resources for workforce development; and participating in related economic development activities.

NWIWB's goals are to develop the WorkOne system as a comprehensive career employment resource, which is user friendly, accessible and customer focused; align service and training providers with the demand-side needs identified by the region's employers; actively pursue youth engagement strategies, particularly emphasizing educational attainment and productive employment; use research to focus attention on demand industry clusters and create regional awareness of issues; and use knowledge of workforce needs to influence public policy at local, state, and federal level.

The board believes that a workforce that is highly skilled, motivated and diverse, earning sustainable or higher wages and actively engaged in skill advancement and life-long learning will shape our region to better compete in today's economy.

Northwest Indiana Workforce Board

Gerry Scheff, Chairman

Emerson Power Transmission

Judith Stanton, Vice Chair

Stanton Law Office

Gary Miller, Treasurer

Prompt Ambulance Service, Inc.

Keith Kirkpatrick, Secretary

KPM Group, Inc.

Michael Berta, Jr.

Portage Township Schools

Catherine Delgado

CLD Consulting Services, Inc.

Tom Hargrove

U.S.W. Local 1010

Michael Horton

Michiana Resources, Inc.

Burt Isch

Sysco Group

Wally Laird,

WRIN/WLQI

Reverend Raymond McDonald II

St. John Baptist Church

Robert Schaefer

Community Dynamics

Rudy Sutton

R.V. Sutton, Inc.

Linda Woloshasky

Staff Liaison, Center of

Workforce Innovations

LOCATIONS

Crown Point

1166 N. Main St.

(219) 661-8985

East Chicago

4818 Indianapolis Blvd.

(219) 398-2601

Gary

3522 Village Circle

(in Village Shopping Center)

(219) 981-1520 or

(219)-981-4100

Hammond

5243 Hohman

(219) 933-8332

Knox

53 W. Lake St.

(574) 772-6882

LaPorte

Sagamore Center

300 Legacy Plaza West

(219) 362-2175

Michigan City

344 Dunes Plaza

(219) 872-5575

Morocco

4117 S. 240 West

800-661-2258

Portage

Ameriplex Commercial Park

1575 Adler Circle, Suite A

(219) 762-6592

Rensselaer

116 N. Van Rensselaer St.

(219) 866-4330

Valparaiso

502 Wall St., Suite 105

(219) 464-0293

Winamac

123 N. Market St., Suite 2

(574)946-6300