Hal Wood, with Advisory Management Services, will present information on labor market and immigration, changes to immigration law, immigration issues with the application process, types of documentation, the “no match” letter, and new approaches and penalties from ICE for illegal hires. 

The seminar will take place from 7:30 a.m. to noon on May 22, 2008 at Grant’s Restaurant, 114 Chapel Drive, Monett, MO.

The non-refundable registration fee of $25.00 covers breakfast and all seminar materials.  Checks should be made out to Missouri Employer Committee.  Individuals interested in attending should contact Elaine or Patty at the Missouri Career Center, 417-235-7877 by May 20. 

Additional sponsors include the Missouri Career Center, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development and the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri.

For additional information or to request special accommodations, call Shirley Click at 417-629-3000.

> Download the flyer and registration form (PDF)

The rankings recognize communities that have “the right mix” that make them a “magnet for the best businesses,” according to Business Development Outlook.  All 280 metro areas in the U.S. were considered in the rankings by Outlook.  The Joplin Metro (defined as Jasper and Newton Counties) nabbed the 23rd spot based on criteria such as transportation access, health index, low crime rates, and cost of living.

The Outlook article profiles Joplin specifically in one of the paragraphs of the article.

Joplin, Missouri, is one city that shines in the many areas it takes to make for a pleasant all-around place to live. Future job growth in Joplin is predicted to be 13 percent, according to Sperling’s Best Places. These statistics precipitate an influx of quality workers ready to settle down in a place where they can work hard and raise families. Housing is typically more affordable than the national average, and the crime rate is also low. Joplin met the criteria for an overall thriving city that is hard to beat.

Mark Banden, a compliance assistance specialist with the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, is the featured speaker.  Banden will speak about working with OSHA, OSHA compliance assistance and give an introduction to safety and health management programs.  Daniel Stark, program manager of the Missouri Division of Labor Standards, also will give a presentation on the Consultation Program.

The seminar will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on April 3 at the Missouri Career Center in Joplin.  The center is located at 730 S. Wall Ave.

The non-refundable registration fee of $20.00 covers a continental breakfast and all seminar materials.  Checks should be made out to Missouri Employer Committee and mailed to the Missouri Career Center by March 27.

Additional sponsors include the Missouri Career Center, Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development, and the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri.

For additional information or to request special accommodations, call Shirley Click at 417-629-3000.

Participants of the course will be presented with ways to become more proactive and what qualities and characteristics that great leaders possess.  The instructor is Mike Carder, corporate director of training with Tamko Roofing Products.  The cost is $250.  To enroll, call 417-625-9353 or 417-625-9507.

• Download Missouri Minimum Wage Poster (PDF)
• Resources on Poster Requirements

“I applaud the leaders in Joplin for working together to attract investment and create jobs,” Blunt said. “The Enhanced Enterprise Zone program will help further support Joplin’s economic development efforts and give them a competitive edge in attracting new business opportunities. With our pro-growth, pro-jobs initiatives Missourians have created nearly 97,000 jobs since January 2005 and this announcement is another way we are helping our communities with job creation and economic development.”

“This is the result of 30 years of private and public partnerships working together to bring good jobs to our state,” Rep. Ron Richard said.

The department has reserved the tax credits for a five-year period based on AT&T’s projections for the creation of 569 new jobs at an average wage of $23,600 and new investment of $19.4 million.
 
The Enhanced Enterprise Zone program was implemented in 2004. Enhanced enterprise zones are specified geographic areas designated by local governments and certified by the Department of Economic Development. Zone designation is based on certain demographic criteria, the potential to create sustainable jobs in a targeted industry and a demonstrated impact on local cluster development.

The study compares state to national costs for employee wages, state tax burden, commerical eletricity costs, industrial rent and office rent to come up with an overall Cost of Doing Business Index.  Missouri’s neighbors here in the Four-State Area ranked favorably as well with Kansas at 38, Oklahoma at 40, and Arkansas at 41. 

The 2007 Cost-of-Doing-Business Index is sponsored by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association with summaries available for download at the Milken Institute website. 

“The objective for this event was to provide an opportunity for member businesses to promote goods and services to the general public in an unusual fashion at an unconventional location,” noted John Bode, President of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.  “I’d say the committee has done a great job meeting that objective.”

In addition to the unique tailgate displays, a special appearance of Louise, the Springfield Cardinals mascot is set to boost the baseball theme of the event.  The Gadget Guy, aka Brad Douglas from KSN-TV, will emcee the event. 

Tracy Lemmons and Deb Baugh will represent the Career Center at the event.  The “tailgate booth” will feature information on services and initiatives through the center.  For more information on the Small Business World Series, contact the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 417-358-2373. 

Of those larger (100+ employees) companies surveyed, 58% reported having lost employees at least in part to long commute times, 69% believed a long commute time increases employee stress, 63% believed it triggers negative emotion among employees, 48% said it causes more absenteeism, and 46% said it contributes to turnover.  Some of the solutions to long commute times offered by employers included flextime (45%) and telecommuting (21%).

ULI research also found that 36% of larger employers believed it is important to be actively involved in providing employee access to affordable housing, and 42% said they would participate in a government housing program.

Of those workers earning less than $50,000 a year surveyed by ULI, 64% would consider a lateral move in exchange for a shorter commute.  Of those workers now commuting more than 90 minutes daily, 85% would be at least somewhat likely to make a lateral job switch to cut their commute in half.  Overall, however, 58% would prefer to live in an area with more affordable housing, even if it means a longer commute.

“Many consumers who don’t perceive living closer to work as desirable are likely not factoring in transportation costs as rising expense,” says ULI Senior Resident Fellow William H. Hudnut, III.

The ULI Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing is a new initiative that will partner with local regional and national organizations, including chambers of commerce, employer organizations, home builder organizations and housing advocacy groups.  The Center will publish best practices, organize conferences and provide competitions to recognize individuals and companies demonstrating excellence in the area of mixed-income housing production. For more information, visit http://www.uli.org.

Much of the affected workforce of more than 700 are comprised of employees with longevity and strong skillsets in advanced manufacturing operations.  The company has phased in the layoffs for the majority of the staff between April and July 2007.
 
To date, the list of employers participating includes: 
• Adecco Employment Service
• Advance Food Company
• Aegis Communications Group
• AT&T
• Barton Co. Memorial Hospital
• Buffalo Run Casino
• Dept. of Corrections - Cameron
• EFCO Corporation
• Express Personnel Service
• Hampshire Pet Products
• Heartland Behavioral Health
• La-Z-Boy Chair Company
• Leggett & Platt - Branch One
• Nevada Daily Mail/Ft. Scott Tribune
• Owens Corning
• People Link Staffing
• Prairie Pride, Inc.
• Precious Moments, Inc.
• Precision Aero Services, Inc.
• Quick Vent Windows
• Superior Industries
• Tyson Foods, Inc.
There is no charge for employers to participate, but advanced registration is a must as space is limited.  To sign up, complete the registration form and fax it to the Missouri Career Center in Joplin 417-629-3011.  For additional information, contract Tracy Lemmons at 417-629-3000 Ext. 237.  Emails can be sent to Tracy via tracy.lemmons@ded.mo.gov. 

> Download the Event Flyer (PDF) 

> Download the Registration Form (PDF)

> Map/Directions for Lamar’s Memorial Hall 

> Lodging and Travel Information for Lamar, MO