San Jose City Hall, 801 North First Street, Room 436, San Jose, CA 95110 (408)277-5131

New One-Stop Career Center to Assist Job Seekers

San José, California -The City of San José/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board announces the opening of a new One-Stop Career and Industry Development Center, a community resource for both job seekers and employers in Santa Clara County. The One-Stop will serve all job seekers in Santa Clara County, while placing special emphasis on working with unemployed adults, CalWorks participants, dislocated workers and youth. The Center will work in partnership with a variety of agencies to leverage services and resources to employers and job seekers. One-Stop partners include community-based-organizations, vocational training schools, community colleges, the California Employment Development Department, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and labor organizations.

The Center will provide user-friendly, customer-focused services to both job seekers and employers to support the county’s economic growth with a highly skilled, trained and dynamic workforce. Job seekers and those seeking career advancement or development skills, will have universal access to services in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Specialized services will also be offered for persons with disabilities and older workers.

Job seekers will work one-on-one with case managers to develop an individualized plan outlining the services and training needed to achieve their employment and career goals. These services are delivered through a tiered system that ranges from self-directed, low cost services to intensive services that include in-depth assessment, individual counseling, training in literacy and basic skills and, if required, occupational skills training.

Job seekers requiring occupational skills training must demonstrate their ability to successfully complete the courses selected. Then, they are able to choose the training program and school they will attend. Training is funded through Individual Training Account vouchers provided to each job seeker who enters an occupational skills training program. In addition to these services, the One-Stop Center provides support services such as child care, transportation vouchers, housing support, clothing, groceries, and auto repair in order to facilitate a smooth transition into employment.

The One-Stop staff will work closely with employers to match qualified workers and to meet their current and emerging needs. Examples of employer services are:

• Job applicant data base and resume review
• Labor market information
• Economic development and tax credit information
• Rapid response and plant closure assistance
• Customized training/on-the-job training subsidies
• Technical advice regarding job retention strategies for special populations
• Special recruitment and outplacement services

A Grand Opening and Open House event will be held on Friday, December 8th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The program begins at 5:00 p.m.,with Mayor Ron Gonzales and Councilmember Cindy Chavez. The One-Stop Center is located at 690 Locust Street in San Jose. Regular hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday 8:00 am. to 6:00 p.m. Orientations are held once a week. For more information, call (408) 920-2548. The San José One-Stop Center is one of three centers that serve an eight-city region: San José, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Campbell, Los Altos Hills, and unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.

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