Workforce center up and running

The workforce center in Owatonna re-opened late last year and officials want everyone to know that after a soft launch, the center is fully operational.
“We are excited to have this center,” said Mike Postma, Steele and Rice County area manager for Workforce Development, Inc., ”The focus for us is to help people who are unemployed or underemployed move into careers.”
A lack of funding forced Workforce Development Inc., a private, non-profit agency, to close Owatonna’s workforce center in 2018.
Last year, the state allocated $275,000 for two years to re-open the center. The move ensured that Owatonna would no longer be the only city in Minnesota with more than 20,000 residents without a workforce center.
After the two-year hiatus, Postma said his organization has more than 70 different funding streams now available in the 10-county area it serves. “Our goal is to identify additional funding sources for the Owatonna workforce center, so we never have to close those doors again.”
“There’s a lot working in Owatonna,” said Postma.
“We want to help folks get the training opportunities they need to be able to get the jobs and bridge the gap to livable wages,” Postma said.
There are a lot of good jobs out there that don’t require 4-year degrees, said Postman, adding that his biggest challenge: same as anywhere else, getting the words out about who we are and what we offer.
Since re-opening late last year, Postma said his organization has hired five people to serve the Owatonna area.
“I’m really proud of the staff we’ve put together in the past few months,” Postma said.
New staff include: Kim Purscell - outreach coordinator; Carrie Johnson, a career planner who specializes with working with folks on unemployment; Megan Horton, a career planner working with SteeleCo Works; Dawne Buttera, who works with Adult Basic Education and the new Bridges to Health Care Program; and the latest hire, Jawahir Mohamed, who will be focusing on manufacturing.
Since starting at the workforce center, Purscell said she’s worked with employers and non-profits to identify employment needs and the needs of the center’s non-profit clients in the area.
“I so enjoy connecting people and resources,” said Purscell. “I love being that connector.”
]Much of her time is spent with employers. Purscell said she then shares the information learned with the career planners who work more directly with the unemployed and underemployed.
Purscell also began compiling job openings and training opportunities in the area and created the Job Seekers Resource List, which she distributes via email to job seekers and employers alike.
“I’m the pipeline of information out to the community,” said Purscell.
The workforce center in Owatonna is located at 1850 Austin Road, Suite 2. The center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 507-333-2088 to make an appointment. Walk-in hours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.