(L to R: David Mosier, Amos Goodwine, Jr., Bill Liddle, Carl Moore, Anita Kuchinski, Dale McBrier, Michele Zieziula (RCWE CEO), Dave Van Amburg, Brian Glowacki and Bob Paris)
November 9, 2009
Meadville, PA – The Regional Center for Workforce Excellence (RCWE), fiscal agent to the Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (NWPA WIB) has finalized closing procedures and received keys to the Sumner-Nichols Building, 155 West 8th Street, in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. The first and second floors of the 4-story building will soon house the Pennsylvania CareerLink® - Erie County. The remaining floors of the building will continue to house Erie County Human Services offices.
The goal of the NWPA WIB and RCWE in purchasing this building is to implement a geographic and systematic revitalization of the Pennsylvania CareerLink® - Erie County system by moving the organization to the newly purchased space. Significant renovations are planned and preliminary expectation is that the Pennsylvania CareerLink® - Erie County will be prepared to open for business at the new location in June 2010.
Michele Zieziula, Regional Center for Workforce Excellence CEO comments, “Workforce development is one of the top areas of interest in relation to the sustainability of our regional economy. The Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board and the RCWE recognizes the increased need for employment and skill development services and now stand ready to better serve employers and job seekers in our region.”
By redirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual rent toward the ownership of this site, the purchase will mean a tremendous cost savings to taxpayers. The purchase of this building creates long-term sustainability for the non-profit organization at a time when the state of the economy has left many organizations in peril. The cost savings related to leasing will be applied directly to programs and services that build a strong and stable workforce for Erie County constituents.
The Pennsylvania CareerLink® - Erie County Steering Committee played an integral part in identifying the purchase of the Sumner-Nichols building as a regional effort that will have the most benefits to the community. The Pennsylvania CareerLink® - Erie County Steering Committee is comprised of a detailed list of high profile community leaders from various local organizations who have donated countless hours toward workforce development and improving the system.
Kerry Schwab, NWPA WIB Chair and Owner of the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel commented, “We are thrilled to play a part in the revitalization of downtown Erie and our Pennsylvania CareerLink® system. The Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board feels the timing is perfect with the advent of the PA CareerLink® – Erie County moving into a new era of providing strong support to our local employers, job-seekers and students. Our intent is to go beyond our previous efforts as a Board to a higher level of commitment and sustainability of our Workforce Development System in Northwest Pennsylvania.”
The Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (NWPA WIB) is a membership consortium made up of business executives, community leaders and elected officials appointed by the Board of Commissioners and Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEOs) who continually serves a multi-regional workforce investment area which includes Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties.
The WIB acts as both the planning council for the region on areas of workforce development and as the Board of Directors for the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence (RCWE). The purpose of the WIB is to focus on strategic planning, policy development, oversight of the system and establishment of priorities for all workforce development funds.
The Regional Center for Workforce Excellence (RCWE) serves as the fiscal agent and staff of the NWPA Workforce Investment Board (WIB) - a group of representative employers, educators, and other professionals from across the region committed to workforce excellence. A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the RCWE’s mission is to connect people with jobs through collaborative workforce development efforts and strong partnerships with economic development, business, education, and government sectors in the Northwest Pennsylvania region.
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Pictured Above (L to R: RSVP Project Director - Sally Kennerknecht, Award Winner - Louise Petronio and President of the RSVP Advisory Council - Julie Price)
The PA CareerLink® - Crawford County recently nominated one of their dedicated volunteers, Louise Petronio for the 2009 Crawford County Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer of the Year Award. On October 30, 2009 at the Annual RSVP Awards Luncheon, Louise was recognized as the winner of the award. The PA CareerLink® - Crawford County stated in their nomination of Louise that they feel very fortunate to have her as a volunteer. She exhibits outstanding service and dedication to the Participants and Staff at the CareerLink. She tirelessly helps by assisting those who are unemployed or underemployed with enrollment in the CareerLink system and job search. She helps people see their strengths and feel better about themselves. Louise also volunteers with the Toys for Tots program.
Congratulations, Louise!
Reported from the Warren Times Observer...
View complete article here.
The Warren-Forest Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) will soon see the true effect of federal stimulus money on job creation.
Governor Ed Rendell announced Thursday that the first installment of $123 million in federal recovery funds for weatherization will begin to be released on Nov. 2, part of $253 million that the state will use for this purpose.
"The weatherization program stimulates the economy in several ways," Rendell said. "It saves money on energy bills for people who need it the most, and keeps those dollars circulating in local communities because families will be able to spend more on food, clothing and other necessities. It also will create new jobs in the growing green economic development sector."
With an allocation of $3,334,765 for the Warren-Forest EOC, Executive Director Bob Raible explained how the funds help a lot of people locally.
The EOC serves Warren, Forest and Venango counties. In Venango County, the services are sub-contracted out to another agency, but still draws from the same pool of money.
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