Siskiyou County Community Coordinator Report
December 2000

The Workforce Connection hosted an Open House at their Weed Office in October.  The event was a huge success with staff all putting their best foot forward.  Featured at the Open House were the Community Employment Center, the Learning Lab, and the Employer Resource Center.  These three centers are a collaborative effort of STEP, Siskiyou County Human Services Department, and the Employment Development Department.  Staff from all three agencies hosted tours of the building, explained services and visited with the nearly 75 guests that attended.

In partnership with Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department, STEP provides literacy services on-site at the Siskiyou County Jail.  Always a popular feature with long-term inmates, the literacy services include basic math and reading remediation, and GED preparation.  The inmates receive personalized tutoring and assistance in working through a computer based program - PLATO.  A staff member from STEP is normally available at the jail five days a week on a part-time basis.  STEP and the jail staff are considering ways to expand this service and to provide transitional job readiness training.
   

The Workforce Connection Employer Resource Center recently sponsored a seminar on employer labor laws.  Sessions were held in north and south county and were presented by Barbara Wilbur and Patty Huber, Deputy Labor Commissioners for the State of California.  The topics included the new minimum wage, vacation/sick leave administration, new employer laws for 2001, payment of wages, exempt vs. non-exempt status, provisions for payment of overtime, and employee breaks.  Approximately 70 people attended the sessions and feedback was extremely positive.    

One of the newest businesses to Siskiyou County is the Weed Truck and Travel Center.  The Travel Center, located at the South Weed Interchange on I-5, will include fuel islands (both gasoline and diesel), a convenience store, food service vendors, and trucking supplies.

The Workforce Connection staff have been assisting with recruitment, applicant screening and interviewing of potential employees.  The new business expects to hire up to 50 new employees with positions including everything from managers to custodians.