Do you need a job? Or additional training to secure a better job?  Or maybe you're an employer who is seeking better trained workers.

Like so many things in life, we don’t know what’s available until we need it. The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance in Salisbury offers job training, help in finding work, resume writing and even childcare while people use services at the American Job Center office. It’s an important resource for job seekers and employers alike.

A community resource for residents of Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties, its mission is to strengthen the local workforce. The LSWA is a division of the Tri-County Council and is located inside the American Job Center off Route 50, across from Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury. American Job Centers, with 2,500 locations across the United States, were previously known as one-stop job centers.

Mekia Cherone, American Job Center coordinator, explained the many facets of employment help available to the community. Here are the main components, then I’ll focus on the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance in particular.

The American Job Center has several parts:

1.      The American Workforce Exchange. This deals with job search assistance and techniques, resume assistance, and “dislocated workers” – those who have lost jobs and need assistance filing unemployment.

2.      Department of Rehabilitation Services. DORS helps Marylanders in the tri-county area with disabilities to go to work.

3.      Telamon Corporation. Seasonal farmworkers can receive additional training to go further in life. It’s part of the National Farm Worker Jobs Program. English as a Second Language classes are offered here.

4.      Department of Social Services. The main branch is on Baptist Street in Salisbury, but people who need assistance with services can go to this location for help.

5.      Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, LSWA. Services are provided for adults, youth, and employers, all to help people find jobs and acquire skills, and helping local businesses find and retain quality employees. 

Now to focus on the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance.

 Leslie Porter-Cabell, workforce director, said a wide array of services are offered, and most are federally funded. Services offered include funding certifications for job seekers, supporting on the job training, and partnering with companies to find skilled workers. Some of those companies and organizations include the Vehicles for Change - Delmarva, which helps those who want a second chance become mechanics, TidalHealth hospital, the MAC Center (Maintaining Active Citizens senior center) and Wor-Wic Community College.

Recognizing that transportation and childcare issues can greatly impact someone’s job search, the LSWA provides assistance in both those areas, Porter-Cabell said. The alliance has a mobile unit that travels to all three counties and is equipped with seven computer work stations and printers. The driver is equipped to provide assistance, such as help with resume writing, she noted. Among other locations, stops include libraries, the HALO shelter, and Anne Street Village, the new tiny home community that’s providing temporary housing. See the schedule here.

Trying to research jobs and fill out applications can be challenging with young children, so the LSWA has that covered for you. Porter-Cabell said parents can bring children under 12 to the center and Department of Social Services employees, certified in child care, will watch the kids while parents use the computers on site. It’s a free service, removing one more barrier to what can already be a stressful situation. 

One of the most important components to all that’s offered by the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance is the Job Journal which is published on the first Friday of each month. It represents all the partnerships in the agency that can benefit the community, Cherone said. There are resources for local events for families, employment listings and education information. It’s much more than a job board, she said. Job postings are included, usually more than 100 entries, but there are articles on Zoom interview tips, training opportunities, food pantry information, etc. Live links throughout make it extremely easy to obtain more info or fill out applications.

Check out July’s Job Journal, published last Friday, with a whopping 60 pages. You can subscribe as well; it’s already sent to 1,200 people.  The LSWA Facebook page is also an excellent resource.

What kind of jobs are included in the Job Journal?

*jobs that don’t require a lot of experience or a college degree, entry level, beginning employment 

*jobs for those lacking a high school diploma to those with a two-year college education

*part-time and full-time

*seasonal

“You don’t have to have a high school diploma” to find a job, emphasized Cherone. She said she scours the internet for job postings, looking for opportunities online and in ads, and includes links to the positions in the Job Journal, making it easier for someone to see what’s available. Often local businesses will contact her to include their openings. Cherone verifies every listing she finds, so you can be sure the company is actually hiring, saving you a lot of time in your job search. 

If you’ve seen the Job Journal one month, don’t think you don’t need to read it again, she emphasized. She works hard to make it fresh each month, updating job listings as well as the additional content for job seekers and families. The information is overflowing!  Be sure to check it out, whether its for you or someone you know; it is an extremely helpful resource.