Exploring job possibilities

FVCC, businesses hook up to help valley's unemployed

Last week's meeting of the Flathead Business and Education Council kicked off with bad news from Bill Nelson, manager of Flathead Job Service.

Flathead County continues to lead large Montana counties with its March jobless rate of 12.7 percent, or about 6,000 people unemployed.

"You can see by the sheer numbers that we're by far leading the pack," Nelson said.

In July 2007, few people dreamed that seeds of recession and unemployment were sprouting beneath the boom of construction and real estate sales. Nelson said unemployment was at just 2.8 percent and employers listed more than 500 jobs with Flathead Job Service.

By March 2009, the agency had just 85 positions to fill.

"We have 6,000 people looking for the same 85 jobs," he said.

But Nelson had some good news about the dollars available to retrain the unemployed through the Trade Adjustment Act and the Workforce Investment Act. His office has worked in partnership with Flathead Valley Community College to give the unemployed training in fields with more job potential.

He said demand was brisk for college programs in courses such as heavy equipment operation, electrical technology and welding. But Nelson added his agency was relying on data that was a year old showing demand in these career areas.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed that jobs will be available in these fields," he said.

Nelson was one of several community leaders who spoke to the council founded more than 10 years ago as a communication channel between those training and educating the populace and businesses who need workers.

He ended his status report on a hopeful note.

"I'm hoping by midsummer we'll start to see things improve," he said.

Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas followed Nelson with a report of boom times on the campus with enrollment up 20 percent in the spring semester. The outlook for the summer semester appears headed for more record gains.

"We expect to see quite a large number," Karas said.

She said the faculty and staff had worked hard trying to service the tidal wave of demand this spring.

Karas said that the college receives funding based on 1,550 full time equivalents (FTE) but that equates to about 3,000 students. Each person, whether full- or part time, needs advising, transcripts and paperwork.

"With the staff we have, the sudden increase in enrollment is creating a challenge for us," she said.

Karas said the college responded with a number of late starting classes for people who lost their jobs but didn't have time to finish necessary paperwork for the start of spring classes. She said 121 new students enrolled in these classes, allowing them to start their education track quickly.

"That was huge," she said.

The college participates as part of the Job Service's rapid response team formed to deal with the unemployment crisis. Karas said the teamwork has created waiting lists for several areas of training offered through the college.

"We could probably run the heavy equipment program 24/7," she said.

According to Karas, many of the people coming to the college "have worked with their hands and their hearts all their lives." She said they want to get back into the work force.

She told the story about an older dislocated worker who came into her office almost in tears because he had to drop a computer class because he couldn't type. Karas said that illustrates the kind of challenge the college faces.

"We're trying to make a comfortable, safe environment [for people] to learn," she said.

She said the partnership between business and educators in the Flathead has paid large dividends to both.

Joe Unterreiner, president of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, followed Karas with an optimistic look at work ahead for many of the people receiving retraining. He counts some $80 million in private and public construction planned in upcoming months.

He listed the new Wal-Mart super store, Valley Bank, the old Tidyman's renovation and the Montana Club replacing Sawbucks. Unterreiner also mentioned the new 911 center, the new Evergreen Fire Hall and other public buildings.

According to Unterreiner, the Convention and Visitor Bureau reports strong advance reservations for June and July, forecasting a strong start for the tourism season in the Flathead.

"August is a little soft," he said. "We're still enjoying strong airport bookings."

Unterreiner passed out a draft of the chamber's "Education and Workforce Strategic Plan."

The document forecasts jobs will continue to require at least two to four years of education or training beyond high school.

DeAnn Thomas, career center director for Kalispell's two high schools, followed Unterreiner with an unscheduled announcement that the district has been invited to present its career clusters curriculum at a large conference in Fort Worth.

She said many rural schools have also expressed an interest in the system in which students start high school with a six-year plan that extends training beyond high school.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.