People looking for work now have one place to go for job and unemployment services. This morning in Rock Island, the Illinois Department of Employment Security held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new American Job Center. The office features walk-in employment services as well as a call center that will serve people statewide.
Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms is grateful for the center's 40 new jobs. The center also addresses concerns of citizens frustrated about where to go for unemployment services. Thoms said, "This is a good, one stop shop type of deal. It makes sense."
The American Jobs Center is funded through the Work Force Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services are overseeing the programs. Illinois State Representative Mike Halpin says the new center replaces a center that closed four years ago. "When you're out of work, you may not have transportation, you may no have easy telephone or internet access. There may be other barriers and hurdles to get over."
The Center is located at 500 42nd Street, Rock Island, just west of IH Credit Union. It includes offices for Black Hawk College Adult Education, Illinois Human Services, Project Now, and other support services.