BooneWorks: Helping Employers and
Community in a Tight Labor Market
BooneWorks is a partnership of Boone County service providers and employers
organized to respond to welfare-to-work (WtW) initiatives. This simplistic
statement gives only a hint of the activities in Boone County in the
past two years to help persons receiving welfare, and other assistance,
to become working members of our community. In addition to helping people
move toward economic independence, BooneWorks programs help employers.
In a tight labor market, the program provides employees from a pool
of persons previously considered difficult to employ.
The Columbia Area Career Center has designed five special, short-term
job training programs for BooneWorks clients: Customer Service Representative,
Culinary Specialist, Floor Installation Specialist, Patient Care Specialist
and Manufacturing Production Worker. Area employers provided input to
development of these training programs.
The training programs, which are offered full time and daily, range
from four to eight weeks. In addition to providing the basic technical
skills necessary in each training program area, all programs focus on
key employability skills, such as: basic reading and math, attendance,
teamwork, punctuality, appropriate attire and conflict resolution.
To date, 104 persons have participated in eight classes in the five
different training programs, with 90 completing (87% completion rate).
Of those who have completed the training and are available to work,
85% are employed, 8% are actively seeking employment, and 7% are continuing
their education.
The core partners in BooneWorks are Advent Enterprises, Inc., Columbia
Area Career Center, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic
Development, Inc., Missouri Division of Workforce Development, Missouri
Division of Family Services, Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation,
and Human Development Corporation.
In addition to the training programs, other services provided to BooneWorks
clients eliminate some employment barriers. Case managers assist clients
in eliminating barriers, such as: lack of transportation, childcare
and housing.
Employers also benefit through tax credit and wage supplementation
programs. Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit is a two-year tax credit
with tax savings up to $8,500 per eligible recipient hired. The first-year
credit is 35% of qualified wages for a maximum of $3,500, and the second-year
credit is 50% the qualified wages for a maximum of $5,000.
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a tax credit equal to 40%
qualified wages for a maximum allowable credit of $2,400. The Wage
Supplementation Program allows an employer to fill positions with
subsidized employees when they hire a BooneWorks participant. An employee's
benefits are diverted into a wage pool from which the employer is reimbursed
for part of the person's wages. Additional assistance may be available
in the form of on-the-job training and/or work experience programs.
The Columbia/Boone County Community Partnership, the Columbia Area
United Way, and Missouri Wins endorse the BooneWorks consortium. For
more information on how you might utilize BooneWorks clients, or how
you might offer assistance, contact:
BooneWorks
1500 Vandiver Drive Suite 109
Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 884-3661
or
Columbia Area Career Center
Financial Aid Office
(573) 884-4074
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Authored by: Steve Chott, Coordinator of Industrial
Technology, Columbia Career Center
Source: Creating Quality Newsletter, Volume
10, Number 6, June 2001
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