Organizational example:
WIRE-NET
Organization/Program |
WorkSource (formerly the Hire Locally Program) |
Program Purpose |
To help unemployed and underemployed residents of Northeast Ohio improve employability and gain technical skills to connect them to job opportunities in manufacturing. |
Program Description |
Created in 1986, WIRE-Net is an economic development agency with a mission to strengthen manufacturing to create healthy communities and fuel economic growth. WIRE-Net provides expertise that is responsive to manufacturing related businesses and their employees and connects leaders to each other and engages them in their communities. Hire Locally, launched in 1989, targeted entry-level operator and laborer jobs in manufacturing. All applicants who came to Hire Locally first completed a 2-hr. or 4-hr. workshop that covered basic employability skills, job-search techniques, and factors that helped in job retention, such as dealing with conflict and learning from criticism. Following the workshop, individual assessment interviews were conducted to determine job readiness in manufacturing and whether or not an applicant had “the personality, drive, and honesty” that appeal to employers. If an applicant faced a significant barrier, such as lack of education, training, childcare, or transportation, he/she was referred to a social services manager and was eligible to return once the problem was addressed. The applicant then worked with an employment specialist to develop an employability plan. For those not ready for manufacturing jobs, a 160-hour Basic Skills in Manufacturing (BSM) course was designed by WIRE-Net and member companies. The course consisted of 20 hours per week of classroom work at a community college and 20 hours per week of on-the-job training at member companies (where each student was “sponsored” and the member company agreed to consider him/her upon completion of the course). Hire Locally was successful because staff got to know employers’ operations and needs by spending time on the shop floor. Staff spent a great deal of time understanding the demands and conditions of particular jobs and plants, and consulting at length with employers about past placements and future needs. Also, employer representatives came to Hire Locally workshops to describe their company, their needs, expectations, and current available openings. |
Program Description |
Hire Locally was very successful and became a model for sector based workforce development programs. However, changing economic conditions and the resulting market trends led WIRE-Net to revise its programs to meet the needs of the time. WIRE-Net is currently completing a re-engineering of its WorkSource Program that will capture many components of Hire Locally while building in programming to effectively serve increasing numbers of individuals. |
Contact Information |
Rebecca Kusner |
Information from Rebecca Kusner at WIRE-Net and from Ma & Proscio, 1999.