By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
Regional workforce development organization, Mesquite Works hosted its second quarterly job fair of 2018 at the Rising Star Sports Ranch Resort on Wednesday, May 23. Business representatives from around the area gathered to meet with job seekers and prospective employees.
VISTA volunteer Linda Rino said that Mesquite Works is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that works to connect job seekers and employers.
“We offer training, classes and volunteer opportunities,” she said.
Rino added that this is the second year that the organization has hosted quarterly job fairs. The first year was very successful with a total of 180 participants being employed through the group’s four quarterly fairs.
The organization’s mission is to “provide training opportunities for jobseekers and businesses of the Virgin and Moapa Valleys of southern Nevada and the Arizona Strip communities of Beaver Dam, Scenic and Littlefield.” Goals include assisting job seekers and to provide “resources, tools and training that help overcome barriers and plan to achieve a path to career success for citizens of Mesquite and the surrounding areas.”
Beehive Homes Assisted Living was among the participating businesses searching for employees at the fair. According to Kitchen Manager Cindy Shewell the company has hired two employees from previous job fairs and is in search of four to five more applicants.
“We’re opening a second house,” Shewell said, adding that they will need additional staff to accommodate the pending growth. The company is searching for caregivers and possibly a cook, she said.
Beehive Homes is located at 780 2nd S Street in Mesquite.
One Stop Career Center also participated in the fair as a resource readily available for those in need of employment assistance and vocational training.
“We’re helping people get jobs,” Career Coach Yolanda Jackson said. The center is able to assist individuals in obtaining health cards, gaming cards and whatever training may be necessary for a potential job, she said.
Jackson added that the organization offers 12 to 24-month programs that will qualify income eligible individuals with quality training and assistance. These programs include on the job training and work experience programs.
“We’ve had a lot of participants with very successful outcomes who complete school and get jobs,” Jackson said.
Gas cards and bus passes are also available for qualifying individuals who have to travel to look for work or attend various programs.
Jackson said that progress is tracked and that participants will have assistance throughout the entire duration of the program.
“The government wants us to prove that we’re spending the (grant) money wisely and getting a (positive) outcome,” she said.
The One Stop Career Center is opening a new location inside the old Mesquite Library at 121 W. 1st N. Street.
Other participating businesses included Do It Best Corp, Primex, Vegas PBS, Virgin Valley Family Services, Moapa Aquatic, Mesquite Fire and Rescue, City of Mesquite, Eagles Landing, Wendy’s, Mesquite Police Department, CSN, Kitchen Encounters and more.
