Published: September 23, 2009 10:39 am      

Job one? Get one

Event to help seekers get back on career path

San Marcos — Texas’ unemployment rate in August hit eight percent and the jobs lost have included positions in San Marcos and Hays County. Some may be recalled when the economy improves, though some jobs may be gone for good.

To help those residents who have lost their jobs decide on and train for a new career, a group of sponsors has teamed up to offer Career Pathways for Central Texans, which will hold a free informational workshop Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center for residents of Hays, Caldwell and Blanco counties.

“This is certainly a unique opportunity,” said Dan Roy, president of the board of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, who along with Mayor Susan Narvaiz will speak at the event. “We view it as capacity building for the chamber and are anxious to support it.”

“We’re hoping for a big turnout,” said John Engel of Community Action Agency Inc., who is sponsoring the event along with the chamber, Austin Community College, Capital Idea and Comfort Connection.

Engel and Narvaiz said local business and manufacturing leaders were called in to offer suggestions on what type of jobs might be in demand now or as the economic picture improves.

“I’m excited the community was able to come together to talk about what are some of those areas we need to improve on, to expand somebody’s skills,” Narvaiz said. Noting that funding comes from the federal American Rapid Recovery Act, she said the initiative provides an opportunity to use that stimulus money “and put it in programs that we know are needed in our community that will benefit employers and employees.”

Among the topics program will cover are:

• Free career counseling

• Free college readiness courses

• Financial assistance with college tuition and books

• Free Certified Production Technician training

• Free Certified Logistics Technician training

• Free Certified Nurses Aide training

• Free Certified Medication Aide training

• Free computer software classes

• Child care and transportation assistance.

“We think those positions will be in demand,” Roy said.

Engel said the stimulus money will fund the program for a year; adding that he hopes the fact ACC and Capital Idea were brought into the mix can translate into something longer term. “It may be a step towards building the workforce development infrastructure that the region really needs,” he said.

The August unemployment rate was up from 7.9 percent in July. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas civilian labor force remained at more than 12 million in August, though 62,200 jobs were lost that month.