For Information Contact: 

Terry Humphries, Rome One-Stop
337-7300

Tara Capponi, Rome Chamber
337-1700

Eannace: Rome Working Solutions Open House on
Jan. 7^th Assists Students, Employers

ROME – Two key missions of the Working Solutions Rome One-Stop Workforce Development Center will come together on January 7^th, when Working Solutions hosts students, employers and celebrates its open house with a formal dedication ceremony, County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr., said today.

"Working Solutions’ One-Stop Workforce Development Centers exist to bring people together," Eannace said. "Through the cooperative efforts of Oneida County Workforce Development and the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, our Open House event will bring these important groups to see the services that Working Solutions has to offer."

The day’s schedule includes these events at the Working Solutions Rome One-Stop Workforce Development Center, located at 252 W. Dominick St. in Rome:

From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Chamber, in cooperation with local businesses, is sponsoring "Starting Off on the Right Foot," which targets college juniors and seniors who will soon need advice on budgeting, rental agreements and evaluating job offers. Openings are limited. Students who want to attend should call the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce at 337-1700.

From 5: 30 p.m. to 7 p.m., a "Business After Hours" will be held at Working Solutions. "Business After Hours" allows business people to network with others, tour the One-Stop Workforce Development Center and get the facts about how the Working Solutions consortium can help them.

A 6 p.m., a brief dedication ceremony will be held. Speakers will include Eannace, Rome Mayor Joseph Griffo, Rome Area Chamber of Commerce President Roberta Cavano and others.

"January 7^th will be a great day for Working Solutions," said One-Stop Manager Terry Humphries. "We will be hosting our young people as well as our business community. We hope as many people as possible will join us."

"Working Solutions offers services to area residents who are seeking work and employers seeking qualified workers," Humphries said. "Employers who attend the ‘Business After Hours’ can learn about our programs to help them with recruitment and retention. They can also pick up information on existing funding programs to help reduce their costs."

"Starting Off on the Right Foot" is a new venture for the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, said Tara Capponi, the Chamber’s Vice President for Marketing and Communication.

"We had a lot of support from employers and agencies to pull this together," she said. In addition to Oneida County Workforce Development, the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce has been assisted by the Ford Group; Fleet Bank; Mark 1 Real Estate; Wal-Mart Super Center; Steve Jarvis State-Farm Insurance Agency; Ponderosa Steakhouse; Staples; Jervis Public Library; Rome Catholic High; NYSSD, City of Rome; Rome City School District; and Rome Community Christian School.

Mohawk Valley EDGE will be on hand to answer questions from employers. The Workforce Investment Board will have information about assistance employers can receive with training needs. Oneida County’s "Call Mohawk Valley Home" effort is a financial sponsor of the program, and will have on hand information about the region’s career opportunities and the Oneida County College Student Corps.

Students will be able to participate in workshops the following topics:

• Financial Survival, presented by Elaine Fox of Fleet Bank;
• Evaluating Rental Agreements, presented by Mark Malorzo of Mark 1 Real Estate;
• Evaluating Job Offers/Benefits, presented by Lynda Ford of The Ford Group.

"Those who attend will benefit from the presentations because they will be faced with the realities of budgeting, renting and evaluating job offers very soon, if they haven’t already," Capponi said. "Although we are targeting college juniors and seniors, this program is open to those who attended a two-year college, or no college at all. We are talking reservations (due to limited seating) on a first-come, first-serve basis."

"We want Working Solutions’ Rome One-Stop Workforce Development Center to be the crossroads where employers and job-seekers of central and western Oneida County meet," Eannace said. "Our Open House shows that our commitment runs deeper than just words, and that we will help our youth and our employers in every way possible."