Sunday May 18, 2008

History

1994: The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, in response to its commitment to regional economic/workforce issues, organized a task force called the Job Center Work Group to develop a workforce development system that would not only change the welfare system but create a collaborative approach to regional workforce issues.

1995: The model developed by the task force would feature a "no-wrong-door" concept and an integrated service delivery system housed under one roof. Other criteria included:

  • Class A office space
  • non-governmental facility
  • partner organizations should include business, governmental agencies, social service agencies and educational/training organizations
  • Facility would have a basic customer service philosophy of "unconditional positive" regard for all people, resulting in respectful treatment for all Job Center visitors and staff

1996: The model was incorporated in the task forces' application for and subsequent receipt of a grant issued by the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for the implementation of a "One-Stop Career Center."

1997: The Job Center, the name given to the One-Stop Career Center opened for business June 2, 1997 at 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd. in Dayton, Ohio. The facility is leased to Montgomery County and other participating organizations from St Vincent De Paul Society of Dayton. The Job Center defines its core customers as (1) employers and (2) job seekers. It provides a single place where employers can access a pool of qualified, job-ready workers. In addition, job seekers can access job information, training programs and other services needed for employment and career development.

1998: Job Center wins "Innovation" award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Best Practice Center.

1999: Job Center awarded National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for Innovation.

1999: Job Center nominated for the Federal Hammer Award for unique partnership of federal and local government agencies dealing with workforce issues.

2001: Rutgers University (Workforce Institute) awards the Job Center the prestigious John J. Heidrich award for One-Stop Design and Management.

2002: Job Center identified by the Rockefeller Institute of Government as outstanding in efforts to integrate human service programs.

2003: United States Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, after visiting the Job Center, pronounces Center as "the model for America."

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