Melissa Bregani

AUSTIN – With funding threatened because of an unauthorized move to a second site, area legislators came together with city officials and members of the Workforce Development Center Wednesday to discuss the future operation of the center.

Friday, January 18, 2002

AUSTIN – With funding threatened because of an unauthorized move to a second site, area legislators came together with city officials and members of the Workforce Development Center Wednesday to discuss the future operation of the center.

Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea, explained that Workforce Development is leasing two buildings – the space vacated by the Austin School District last summer as well as at Riverland Community College in Austin.

There had been no communication with the State Department or Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) prior to the move, according to Schwab. This is where the issue lies.

&uot;The criteria for Workforce Development is that it’s usually located at a MnSCU institution,&uot; Schwab said. &uot;(Because it’s not), the commissioner has threatened to hold funding.&uot;

When you think of Workforce Development, she said, it’s easy to think of welfare to work, or work to welfare.

As a state program, however, a huge amount of people have access to the workforce.

It became evident, however, that this is not the case in Mower County, according to Schwab.

Now, Workforce Development, Inc., has until May 1 to plan a timetable that will address concerns and have it approved by Commissioner Earl Wilson.

&uot;The key is for local and regional boards to be involved,&uot; Schwab stated. &uot;One function of Workforce Development is for people who have lost their jobs, but it’s not just a place to partner with the county.&uot;

A big concern of Wilson’s, according to Schwab, was that residents not have to go all around town to receive servies; thus, there’s the possibility of keeping the current arrangement, if approved.

Riverland President Gary Rhodes sees that as a possibility; he said during the summer, Riverland did not have the room to house both Workforce Development and Workforce Development, Inc.; now, they do.

&uot;By May 1, they have to figure out a plan of how to best serve the community,&uot; Rhodes said. &uot;Riverland has two roles – we are the facility, similar to a landlord and we could also be a vendor for training.&uot;

Becky Thofson, of Workforce Development, said she’s confident that Workforce Development will remain in its current location.

&uot;In the strategic plan, we need to decide for Austin if it’s better to be located on an institution or downtown, where we are now,&uot; Thofson said. &uot;We’re talking to the community to see what they want.&uot;

She continued, &uot;I think research will show that it’s better for the city of Austin to be located downtown.&uot;