Outside of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), you'd be hard-pressed to find supporters of its plan to close dozens of job centers across the state in the name of cost-savings and efficiency.
Some good news this week is that even the DWD now isn't sure the plan is a good one.
DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman told the Wisconsin State Journal on Wednesday that her department is reconsidering the plan to consolidate 39 job centers statewide into 12 sites in larger cities. "I want to do some more work with our regional work force partners and our staff to identify some additional options for meeting our shared fiscal pressures (federal dollar reductions) as well as our commitment to serve more workers and more employers," Gassman told the newspaper.
The Green County Job Service center at Pleasant View Complex on Wisconsin 81 north of Monroe is one of those scheduled to be closed. Under the DWD plan, Green County residents would have access to two "brick-and-mortar" centers in Janesville and Fennimore.
Legislators from both parties have criticized the plan since its announcement and during a legislative hearing Tuesday. In spite of the very real problem of the shrinking federal financial contribution, making access to state job services more difficult is the wrong decision during these increasingly tough economic times. Especially in more rural areas like Green County, where making a long drive or accessing the Internet to utilize job services may not be feasible.
The pause on the plan this week by DWD is encouraging. Hopefully, leaders like Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, and others who have been critical of the plan will help be part of a better solution.
Some good news this week is that even the DWD now isn't sure the plan is a good one.
DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman told the Wisconsin State Journal on Wednesday that her department is reconsidering the plan to consolidate 39 job centers statewide into 12 sites in larger cities. "I want to do some more work with our regional work force partners and our staff to identify some additional options for meeting our shared fiscal pressures (federal dollar reductions) as well as our commitment to serve more workers and more employers," Gassman told the newspaper.
The Green County Job Service center at Pleasant View Complex on Wisconsin 81 north of Monroe is one of those scheduled to be closed. Under the DWD plan, Green County residents would have access to two "brick-and-mortar" centers in Janesville and Fennimore.
Legislators from both parties have criticized the plan since its announcement and during a legislative hearing Tuesday. In spite of the very real problem of the shrinking federal financial contribution, making access to state job services more difficult is the wrong decision during these increasingly tough economic times. Especially in more rural areas like Green County, where making a long drive or accessing the Internet to utilize job services may not be feasible.
The pause on the plan this week by DWD is encouraging. Hopefully, leaders like Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, and others who have been critical of the plan will help be part of a better solution.
