Job seeking just got a little easier in Ceres thanks to the newly opened Career Resource Center made possible through the collaborative efforts of several agencies.
The center is located inside a portable on Ceres school district property just south of Walter White School at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Sixth streets. Sponsors of the center are the Alliance Worknet, the state Employment Development Department (EDD) and the Ceres Unified School District.
According to Dustin Pack, coordinator for Project YES, the center is targeted to help the unemployed through the same types of services offered at the Modesto, Turlock and Oakdale EDD offices.
"Adults can come here and get direct services," said Pack.
Ceres has a higher unemployment rate than the rest of the county, according to EDD statistics. In April the county had a jobless rate of 18.3 percent; but the rate within the Ceres 95307 zip code was 22.5 percent.
The center, which features 10 computer stations, allows for internet searches of available jobs through the Alliance Worknet job website at www.allianceworknet.com, as well as fax resumes. The center will also allow adults to receive typing certificates.
Adolph Lopez, manager of the Alliance Worknet, said his agency routinely asks different employers what their employment needs are and attempts to match needs with "ready-now" job applicants.
"Every day we're getting new job opportunities out in the community, through our website and through the local resources," said Lopez.
The office will also be used by other government agencies for non-job relating services. For example, the office will serve as a once-per-month satellite office for Medi-Cal Healthy Families services.
The CUSD complex also is home to offices of the Ceres Healthy Start, Project YES, the Ceres Chamber of Commerce, and Ceres Adult Education.
"You might wonder Ceres Unified is interested in helping adults," said Assistant Supt. Jay Simmonds. "We firmly believe that the more we can help the parents, the children will benefit. So if a parent is duly employed and has good income and making their lives easier, then they can make easier the child's life and they do better in the classroom."
Pack said efforts have been made to publicize the center, including brochures passed out at the Ceres Street Faire.
The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and may be reached at 556-1500, ext. 1266.
The center is located inside a portable on Ceres school district property just south of Walter White School at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Sixth streets. Sponsors of the center are the Alliance Worknet, the state Employment Development Department (EDD) and the Ceres Unified School District.
According to Dustin Pack, coordinator for Project YES, the center is targeted to help the unemployed through the same types of services offered at the Modesto, Turlock and Oakdale EDD offices.
"Adults can come here and get direct services," said Pack.
Ceres has a higher unemployment rate than the rest of the county, according to EDD statistics. In April the county had a jobless rate of 18.3 percent; but the rate within the Ceres 95307 zip code was 22.5 percent.
The center, which features 10 computer stations, allows for internet searches of available jobs through the Alliance Worknet job website at www.allianceworknet.com, as well as fax resumes. The center will also allow adults to receive typing certificates.
Adolph Lopez, manager of the Alliance Worknet, said his agency routinely asks different employers what their employment needs are and attempts to match needs with "ready-now" job applicants.
"Every day we're getting new job opportunities out in the community, through our website and through the local resources," said Lopez.
The office will also be used by other government agencies for non-job relating services. For example, the office will serve as a once-per-month satellite office for Medi-Cal Healthy Families services.
The CUSD complex also is home to offices of the Ceres Healthy Start, Project YES, the Ceres Chamber of Commerce, and Ceres Adult Education.
"You might wonder Ceres Unified is interested in helping adults," said Assistant Supt. Jay Simmonds. "We firmly believe that the more we can help the parents, the children will benefit. So if a parent is duly employed and has good income and making their lives easier, then they can make easier the child's life and they do better in the classroom."
Pack said efforts have been made to publicize the center, including brochures passed out at the Ceres Street Faire.
The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and may be reached at 556-1500, ext. 1266.
