Mesa County Workforce Center featured on Fruita Roots podcast

The latest episode of Fruita Roots, hosted by the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce, featured Megan Fry, Career Development Supervisor at the Mesa County Workforce Center alongside Sue-Ellen Rodwick from Food Bank of the Rockies. Please follow this link to listen to the full conversation, which gives valuable insight into how the Workforce Center supports both local businesses and job seekers.

The Mesa County Workforce Center (MCWFC), 512 29 ½ Road, operates under the Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS), 510 29 ½ Road, and serves as a one-stop hub for employment services. Free resources are available to all Mesa County residents, including a GED classroom, a resource room with computers, printers and fax machines, as well as professional assistance with resumes, mock interviews and job searches. Businesses can also access free services such as job postings, hiring event space, labor market research and applicant skills testing.

The Career Development Program is funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and provides incentives for businesses to hire and train workers through paid internships, on-the-job training reimbursements and tuition assistance. Additional funding sources, including Wagner-Peyser and DHS grants, support core employment services that are available to the public without eligibility requirements.

MCWFC stays responsive to local labor market needs by engaging with a 28-member Workforce Development Board made up of business leaders. One example includes addressing a shortage of childcare workers by partnering with Mesa County Public Health and CMU Tech to expand certification opportunities in early childhood education.

At MCWFC, basic services are open to everyone, while programs that offer funding to employers or tuition assistance have income-based eligibility requirements for individuals who are unemployed or earning less than a livable wage.

MCWFC is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, please visit online.