One doesn't have to think long to realize how poorly timed the essential shutdown of the Green County Job Center would be.
At best, economic times are uncertain. Workers, and the people who hire them, continue to be squeezed by rising energy, food and health care costs. All resources in the search for employment and income for Green County residents are vital.
Now, one of them apparently is going away, apparently the victim of state budget cuts.
The Job Center, located at the Pleasant View Complex on Wisconsin 81 north of Monroe, soon will cease to have a Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Job Service staff member on site on a regular basis. DWD partners with Job Service, providing labor exchange services, career assessment, advertising and training.
DWD is trying to put a positive spin on the closing of the center, which helped about 750 people last year. It says having regional job centers will enrich services and allow money to be better spent on advising. Agency liaison Richard Jones said the DWD still will provide services to people across the state, and will aggressively reach out to customers regardless of their location.
But no spin changes the fact that this is bad news.
Those who used the Monroe facility now will have to travel to one of two regional hubs - Fennimore, which is 68 miles away, or Janesville, 36 miles to the east. With rising gas prices forcing many people to make difficult spending decisions, that distance is significant.
And by reaching out, Jones means having a DWD employee meet with clients "as needed."
The end result will be that fewer people, perhaps far fewer, will be aided. There's nothing positive about that.
At best, economic times are uncertain. Workers, and the people who hire them, continue to be squeezed by rising energy, food and health care costs. All resources in the search for employment and income for Green County residents are vital.
Now, one of them apparently is going away, apparently the victim of state budget cuts.
The Job Center, located at the Pleasant View Complex on Wisconsin 81 north of Monroe, soon will cease to have a Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Job Service staff member on site on a regular basis. DWD partners with Job Service, providing labor exchange services, career assessment, advertising and training.
DWD is trying to put a positive spin on the closing of the center, which helped about 750 people last year. It says having regional job centers will enrich services and allow money to be better spent on advising. Agency liaison Richard Jones said the DWD still will provide services to people across the state, and will aggressively reach out to customers regardless of their location.
But no spin changes the fact that this is bad news.
Those who used the Monroe facility now will have to travel to one of two regional hubs - Fennimore, which is 68 miles away, or Janesville, 36 miles to the east. With rising gas prices forcing many people to make difficult spending decisions, that distance is significant.
And by reaching out, Jones means having a DWD employee meet with clients "as needed."
The end result will be that fewer people, perhaps far fewer, will be aided. There's nothing positive about that.
