MICHIGAN WORKS! DOWAGIAC OFFICE NOW OPEN September 23, 2009

The Michigan Works! Dowagiac Service Center is now open after renovations to maximize space and update technology are complete.

The remodeled facility includes one additional classroom, a new computer lab with 38 new computers, a conference room, and interview room. The building was under construction for approximately three months, but services remained available for jobseekers in mobile offices, Southwestern Michigan College, City Hall, and the Dowagiac and Cass County District libraries. Michigan Works! services are no longer being offered in those locations.

The renovations were made to increase accessibility to Michigan Works! services and programs as the organization has more to offer than ever and demand has gone up, according Michigan Works! director, Todd Gustafson. “The total number of visitors to our Dowagiac office has increased by about 70% during the past year and we’ve exceeded our capacity. The employers and jobseekers we serve need fast service and up-to-date technology. This remodel will help us use our space more efficiently and provide better service.”

The Dowagiac office will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.. Another measure the organization has taken to increase accessibility to their services is opening a sixth service center in Niles, co-located with Lake Michigan College in their Bertrand Crossing campus.

Michigan Works! is a non-profit, Workforce Development organization providing the skilled workforce necessary to meet the needs of employers. They offer free services to employers and jobseekers and

oversee five Service Centers in Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Dowagiac, Paw Paw and South Haven. For more information, call 1-800-533-5800 or visit www.miworks.org ###

Citizen Planner course offered by MSU Extension September 23, 2009

MSU Extension’s premier land use education course Citizen Planner is coming to the Berrien County Michigan State University Extension office in Benton Harbor this October. This outstanding certificate program will begin Thursday, October 22nd, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and continue for 7 weeks, ending on December 10th.  The course is designed to equip land use decision makers with skills and confidence to be effective leaders at the local level.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Citizen Planner program was developed to address the basic, ongoing training needs of citizens appointed to serve on local land use planning bodies.

Van Buren-Cass-Berrien Counties MSU Extension county directors worked with a committee of area residents, public officials and professionals to develop a program customized for this area.

“We are pleased to bring this course back to our tri-county area”, said Joanne Davidhizar, county extension director and co-organizer of the program. “To date more than 60 local leaders from Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties have completed this course and several have earned Master Citizen Planner certification. Not only are the curriculum and speakers top notch but the opportunities for networking with fellow planning and zoning volunteers is excellent and extremely worthwhile according to participants,” said Davidhizar.

Topics to be covered by an MSU Extension trained team of experienced and dynamic instructors include: introduction to planning & zoning, legal foundations of planning and zoning, roles and responsibilities of the planning team and the master plan, zoning, site plans, and responsibilities of the zoning board of appeals, plan implementation and development controls, best practices for innovative planning and zoning, the art of community planning participation, effective meetings and managing conflict.

The cost to enroll in the complete course is $350. Individual sessions may be taken for $75 each. The fee covers registration, course materials, and refreshment breaks. Group discounts for four or more registrants from the same local unit of government are available.  The Sauk Trails Resource Conservation and Development Project have provided a grant for a limited number of $25 scholarships to local officials in Berrien, Cass or Van Buren Counties who complete the course.  For more information, contact Berrien County MSU Extension at 269-944-4126.  Register online at  www.citizenplanner.msu.edu.   The deadline for registration is October 8, 2009.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.  ##

Strive Now Available March 19, 2009

New Help for Unemployed in Cass and Van Buren

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