On March 29, the Virginia Career Works – Wise Center held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its official opening. Community members, local officials, and partnering organizations’ representatives attended the event.
The center, previously located in Norton, will provide various services and resources to job seekers and employers in the counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and the City of Norton. These services include job search assistance, resume writing and interview coaching, information about job training programs, and hiring events. The center also offers resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners, such as business planning workshops and access to labor market information to help owners make informed decisions about hiring. With its open floor plan, the Wise Center will provide more room for these activities than the previous location.
At the open house, guests toured the new facility, met the staff, and learned more about the services and programs available at the center.
The Wise County/City of Norton Chamber of Commerce led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, beginning with opening remarks from President Brandi Pettey. Teresa Adkins (mayor, Town of Wise), Larry Mosley (CLEO chair, Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board), Bill Franklin (WDB chair, Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board), Christopher Sanders (Wise VEC manager, Virginia Employment Commission), and Jason Sartin (center manager, Virginia Career Works – Wise Center) also gave remarks on the importance of the new workforce center and its impact on the community. They praised the efforts of the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board staff in preparing the center for opening and providing a valuable resource for job seekers and employers alike.
Following the remarks, the ribbon was cut, officially marking the new workforce center’s opening. Guests enjoyed refreshments and continued exploring the facility.
The open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony were a great success, bringing together community members and organizations to celebrate the new workforce center. The center will undoubtedly positively impact the community, providing valuable resources and opportunities for individuals and businesses to grow and succeed.
“We are going to be able to host job and resource fairs, meetings and trainings, and community events without worrying about having enough space,” says Jason Sartin, the center’s manager. “We can now bring in some partnering agencies that we simply did not have the room for at Norton. Job seekers and staff alike seem to like the new location. It works out best for everyone, especially our community.”
