SUNBURY - Even the short six miles from Sunbury to Selinsgrove is enough for Tracy Kascsak to be relieved about a CareerLink office opening in her hometown.
"Gas is precious right now, especially being unemployed," she said Tuesday morning as she filled out paperwork at Northumberland/Snyder/Union Counties PA CareerLink.
The 38-year-old single mother of four children has been unemployed for longer than she cares to share.
"The child care makes it difficult (to find a job). My availability is limited," she said. "I have been living off child support and I haven't worked enough lately to qualify for unemployment."
Tuesday marked the opening of the new CareerLink site on the third floor of the Sunbury Municipal Building, 225 Market St. It merges the former Shamokin location, which closed June 30, and the Snyder-Union site, which continues to operate in Selinsgrove but will close Aug. 10.
Although Tuesday was considered a "soft opening" with no fanfare, the site is fully functional and able to accommodate anyone, said site administrator Sue Snyder.
"We're pretty excited. The city of Sunbury has been fantastic. Everything is in good shape and ready," she said Tuesday.
Kascsak's newfound solution to the distance problem is now the same problem some Northumberland County officials worry about for those in the eastern end of the county.
Moving job-search services to Sunbury, and consolidating the two CareerLinks into one, was done as a cost-saving measure by the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corp. (CPWDC), which operates CareerLinks in a nine-county region. But it sparked a major controversy. Commissioners in both counties were joined by municipal officials who argued that the move was done with little consideration for other options or for its impact on the host communities. Despite the protests, the local Workforce Investment Board (WIB), made up of local business leaders and elected officials who oversee CPWDC, voted 27-4 in April in favor of the relocation.
Tour of new site
Tuesday in Sunbury, Kascsak was the first customer at the new CareerLink.
"I was nervous coming here, but they've been helpful," she said. "They're definitely up and functioning."
A tour Tuesday morning by Becky Weller, career resource specialist, showed an office in operation, but signs of the recent move were made evident by unpacked boxes and bare walls. While some computers were operating, about 15 still waited to be set up Tuesday afternoon.
"It looks bare right now, but we're waiting for Selinsgrove to bring over their stuff," Weller said. "We're waiting to make it 'our room.' We're doing a team effort."
In the Career Resource Area, customers can find information about jobs and social issues and can sign up for county assistance and workshops. The room has 11 updated computers, with more coming once Selinsgrove moves in. Each computer is equipped with large text, auditory capability and other handicap assistance features.
The Work Keys room, located near the Career Resource Area, was filled at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with nearly 25 people seeking their career readiness certificate. The class teaches soft skills, such as reading for information, and basic math skills required by some professions. There are two classes per day, Weller said.
Employer representatives were set up in three separate rooms; they work directly with employers and then advise potential employees on how to apply for certain jobs. Eventually, there will be eight representatives.
There is also a space for Incentive, a program that works one-on-one with job seekers.
Despite more work to be done, "We are up and running," Weller said, concluding the tour. "We have been since last Thursday."
Snyder said there are 15 employees at the CareerLink office, with more to come from Selinsgrove.
"I encourage people to expect the same services and I look forward to seeing them here," she said.
Referral programs
As part of the realignment of CareerLink services, the second floor of the municipal building is now home to related offices, including the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) program and others. These are services that customers are referred to, but are not directly accessible to the public.
Municipal offices were once located on the second floor and have consolidated on the first floor. The third floor was once occupied by McCann School of Business and Technology.
A grand opening for the Sunbury location is expected some time after the Selinsgrove merger.
Finding services
Customers can access CareerLink services at any time at www.paCareerLink.state.pa.us. Those visiting local libraries are reminded that a driver's license or library card may be required for access.
Residents of Shamokin and the surrounding areas may contact or visit the closest PA CareerLink offices in Sunbury or Bloomsburg for services.
The phone number at the Sunbury office is 988-7300.