Workforce Development

The Regional Council operates the Missouri Job Center, which assists area businesses and job seekers with meeting the challenges of our economy. The Missouri Job Center is located on the first floor of the Regional Council’s office and is home to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program staff.

Resource Room

The Missouri Job Center is open to the public 8:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Thursday and closed for lunch Noon-12:30pm daily .

Services for BUSINESSES

Post job openings on www.jobs.mo.gov
Reserve space for hiring events and employee interviews
Learn about training programs for their potential or new employees

Services for JOB SEEKERS

Use of computers for job related activities (online applications, resumes/cover letters, job search, check e-mail)
Practice interviewing skills with staff (by appointment)
File Unemployment Claims (UI)
Learn about and utilize Career Exploration Tools
Learn about training opportunities
National Career Readiness Certificate

Partner Agencies that meet by appointment only at Missouri Job Center

Vocational Rehabilitation
Veteran’s Services
Job Corps
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Division of Workforce Development

Missouri Job Center & Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act places great emphasis on streamlining of services to business and job seekers. Customer choice, quality customer service and training individuals for local, in-demand occupations are the focus of Missouri Job Center services.

Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs

Individuals interested in attending training, long term, short term, or On the Job training can meet with a Career Counselor to determine if they are eligible to receive financial assistance for an approved training program.

If an adult has been determined eligible for our program. they may qualify for the following:

Financial assistance
Books and fees
Transportation
Child care
Other supportive services while attending training may be available
Connecting with an employer for On the Job Training

One-Stop Operator

The One-Stop Operator provides organizational support to the four Missouri Job Centers and the One-Stop system partners within the 18-county region managed by the Northwest Workforce Development Board. The roles and responsibilities performed by the One-Stop Operator are prescribed in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The One-Stop Operator is responsible for the following tasks:

Coordinates service delivery of all One-Stop Job Center required services, including services provided by entities that have voluntarily entered into One-Stop Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in accordance with WIOA.
Serves as a liaison between the Northwest Workforce Development Board, WIOA service providers, and other system partners.
Confirms with Northwest Workforce Development Board staff that MOUs or agreements are on file with the Board. The One-Stop Operator is expected to ensure that the One-Stop partners adhere to MOUs, agreements and reporting procedures.
Ensures that partners are aware of basic services offered by One-Stop partners and ensure that Job Center staff delivers the services promised to customers.
Continues to develop and enhance the workforce development system by focusing on a fully coordinated and integrated service delivery model that is market driven and offers value-added services to regional job seekers and businesses.
Ensures an effective referral process is in place and is followed by all partners.
Convenes bi-monthly One-Stop System and Business Services Team meetings, setting agendas, recording minutes, and distributing action steps.
Is knowledgeable of the mission and performance standards of all partners and when necessary, identify cross-training needs.
Assures the delivery of services to individuals with limited English proficiency, disabilities, or other significant barriers.
Ensures One-Stop partners follow the policies of the Job Centers.
Abides by all Federal, State, and Board policies.
Assists the Board in meeting One-Stop Job Center certification/re-certification for effectiveness including customer satisfaction, physical and programmatic accessibility, and continuous improvement (see DWD Issuance 02-2016: Missouri One-Stop Job Center Certification Evaluation and Criteria)

Work-Ready Communities

The purpose of the Missouri Certified Work Ready Communities initiative is to provide counties with a framework to validate that they have a skilled workforce ready to fill current and future jobs. The State of Missouri is partnering with ACT to implement this initiative. The Work Ready Communities initiative is based on the foundation of the WorkKeys assessment system.

Melissa Woltkamp, Mark Sitherwood, Angie Gamache, and Clara Markt

Each county that participates in the initiative works with their local Missouri Job Center and its partners to reach the goals set by ACT regarding the number of individuals who complete the assessments and earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) and businesses participating by recognizing, preferring or recommending the NCRC in their hiring practice.

County goals for each of the 5 counties served by the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments may be viewed at https://www.workreadycommunities.org/MO.

As a county is working to achieve its goals it is granted the status a “Work Ready Community in Progress” status. Once a county has achieved its goals, a Work Ready Community status is awarded. The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Government is pleased that Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth Counties have all received their Work Ready Community status and are working towards their goals to maintain this designation.

For more information about Job Center services, please contact Rita Wallinga at rita@nwmorcog.org or call (660) 582-8980 .

The Missouri Job Center is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Missouri TTY users can dial 711