Cathy Osten

Sen. Osten Joins in Grand Opening of New Regional Jobs Center

MONTVILLE—State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today joined in the grand opening of the new American Job Center East in Montville, which features a wide variety of employment services and programs for jobseekers and employers.

The facility, located at 601 Norwich-New London Turnpike, offers a fully equipped career center and conference rooms for holding regional hiring events and employment workshops. Services for jobseekers include career counseling, résumé-writing assistance, apprenticeship programs, special services for veterans, on-site employer recruitments and a self-service career center with computers, internet service, research materials and phones.

“Today is another great day for eastern Connecticut. This job enter offers one-stop shopping for people who are looking to realize their dreams by securing a job in advanced manufacturing, of which there are plenty of jobs in the area,” Sen. Osten said. “I and other members of the legislature have been working for years to help secure these types of opportunities for people to get jobs in the area. This week’s approval of $8 million in state bonding for workforce training programs to support Electric Boat is another example of that commitment. The private sector has added 2,000 jobs in the Norwich-New London area in the past year alone. We’ve got more work to do, but we’re on the right trajectory.”

“This center showcases the tremendous impact organizational partnerships have within a region, both public and private,” Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board President John Beauregard said. “On average, 11,000 people visit our region’s centers annually and the comprehensive services offer many career opportunities for our residents. The centers also serve as a talent pipeline for employers, with the public-private nature of this center making it unique. For example, Electric Boat and other employers will have personnel on-site to recruit and hire jobseekers as part of the region’s manufacturing pipeline program.”

The new American Job Center East is staffed with a specialist offering in-person unemployment insurance assistance in answering questions, assisting those using the online filing system, and referring them to job center services. For local employers, business service specialists can meet with businesses interested in hiring qualified employees, tax credit programs, or taking advantage of training incentives and apprenticeship programs. More than a dozen workforce partners are located at the center, providing employment services for jobseekers and employers, and job-related services that include adult education, transportation solutions, pipelines to manufacturing careers, and disability employment services.

The American Job Center East is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Members of the public are welcome.