WORKSOURCE CENTER SOARS PAST JOB GOALS TWICE AS MANY ASSISTED AT FACILITY THAN PREDICTED.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- In its first year of operation, the South Valley WorkSource Center has helped more than 1,100 job seekers, more than double its initial goal, officials said Friday during an anniversary celebration.

The South Valley WorkSource Center, located at 1817 East Avenue Q, Suite A-12, is intended to be a one-stop employment center, serving both job seekers and employers. In its first year of operation, the center has served 1,163 job seekers and assisted 156 businesses, both numbers more than doubling the center's first-year goals.

``It's been magnificent,'' said Lorna Williams, the center's program manager. ``This center is serving this community very well.''

In addition to celebrating its first anniversary, center officials and their partners also noted the center's recent certification from the Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board. The certification process is intended to ensure the quality of the center's services plus helping in attracting additional grants for its operation.

``A center with such a wide variety of employment and training services is a wonderful asset to Palmdale,'' said Mayor Jim Ledford.

The center will provide training and resources, such as computers, fax machines and copy machines, to help job hunters find work. Employers also can use the center to conduct interviews and for training and orientation meetings.

One of those who has used the center's services was Felicia Gray, who had been laid off from her banking job in 2004. Gray said the center has helped her line up a series of interviews for jobs with banks.

``I heard about it (the center) from a friend,'' Gray said. ``I used the center to fax my resume and to get on the Internet because I don't have Internet access.''

Among the businesses that use or have used the center for prescreening applicants, interviewing, orientation, and training services are Famous Dave's restaurant, the Magic Mountain theme park, Kaiser Permanente, and a Valencia firm, Arvato Services.

``This WorkSource center is a great help in hiring,'' said Maxine Sulker Hall, Arvato's human resources manager. ``We targeted this area because a lot of our current employees come from here. It's convenient.''

A similar center has been in operation in Lancaster since 1998, but Palmdale officials felt that one center serving an area of 1,500 square miles was inadequate.

``The people we are trying to reach may have difficulties reaching one center,'' Ledford said. ``It's great to have a south valley office up and running.''

The center, which costs about $500,000 a year to run, is being funded by federal grants distributed by Los Angeles County and the city of Palmdale, which is providing about $140,000 toward the project. The center is being managed by Goodwill Southern California under a contract with the city.

The one-stop career center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

james.skeen@dailynews

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