Workforce Solutions Celebrates New LG Facility
Workforce Solutions of Fayette County hosted a ribbon cutting Friday at their new offices in La Grange, located at 851 S. Reynolds St. The Workforce Solutions offices shares the same building as AMEN Food Pantry.
Texas Workforce Solutions, a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and private workforce development boards across the state, offers a multitude of resources for both job seekers and employers.
TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson was on hand for the grand opening. Demerson noted the current economic challenges facing businesses and the workforce.
“Throughout the state, we’re hearing that employers are still needing employees,” Demerson said. “We can figure it out, and this is an opportunity here, starting with this facility. We’re putting boots on the ground.”
Demerson encouraged businesses and job seekers to take advantage of the many programs offered by the local Workforce Solutions office. Those programs include job training, recruiting for business expansion or relocation, periodic conferences on topics such as employment law, internship programs and even a child care reimbursement program for qualified job seekers.
“People utilize them, and they make a difference,” he said.
Missy Rusek, owner of Texas One Stop in La Grange, gave a moving talk about how Workforce Solutions not only helped her business, but improved the lives of several of her employees.
Rusek introduced the crowd to her employee David Valdez. Rusek said that when she hired Valdez, he didn’t have a place to live and had no transportation. Workforce Solutions provided him with a bicycle and some new clothes. He has since climbed the ranks at Texas One Stop. Rusek described him as her “right hand man.”
“Texas Workforce has done a lot for me in my time of need,” Valdez said. “Everybody went through hard times with COVID. I got let off from work. It was hard. I was going check-by-check, trying to keep a roof over my head. By chance, when I applied for a job with Missy, she pointed me toward Workforce Solutions and their programs. It really helped me out. Now I’m married and I have my own place. It’s way better than I was a year ago.”
In another case, Rusek said Workforce Solutions provided QuickBooks training for one of her employees. That employee went from cashiering and leading a team to now assisting the business with accounting.
Jamie Fabre, operations director of the La Grange Chamber of Commerce, complimented the office’s location near AMEN Food Pantry and Second Chance Emporium,
“No one should be embarrassed or challenged or feel they don’t need to come here,” said Fabre. “I’d be proud to walk through the doors and further my education and skills at Texas Workforce Solutions.
“If it’s your kid, your niece or nephew, or a friend, send them here,” Fabre added.
Learn more about the services offered by Workforce Solutions at https://workforcesolutionsrca.com.