As reported in the June issue of the KRA Monthly Spotlight!, through the Norfolk Workforce Development Center (NWDC), the KRA/Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) Program provides intensive workforce services including case management; Occupational Skills Training; GED preparation; Community Work Experience activities; job development, placement, and retention; and supportive services to more than 1,400 jobseeker-customers a year receiving public-assistance cash benefits through TANF. Also, KRA/VIEW provides intensive follow-up for 24 months, including job-retention services for up to 12 months after customers are placed in employment. KRA/VIEW is one of the most successful programs participating in the State’s Full Employment Program, a customized training program under which local employers define their workforce needs and KRA/VIEW provides tailored training and referral of candidates to meet those needs. A recent newsworthy accomplishment follows:
A Portsmouth-based company, NavTech Group, Inc. (NGI) was awarded a U.S. Navy contract, and needed to staff-up immediately to begin work on the obligation. NGI contacted the NWDC and KRA/VIEW to assist them in filling 150 open positions as quickly as possible. Founded in 2005, NGI is a woman and minority-owned small business, “ providing industrial cleaning and repair services to government, commercial, and ship repair facilities…domestically and internationally…working with various shipboard systems, tanks, bilges, holding tank systems that are found…on all types of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.” The majority of NGI’s contracts are for Marine and Industrial Tank Cleaning, but they have recently partnered with another firm to offer Marine Sandblasting and Painting services.
More than familiar with quick-turnaround start-up operations, the KRA/VIEW team of Employment Specialists sprang into action, combing case files for candidates meeting NGI’s staffing requirements. Alisha Bazemore, Program Manager, stated, “We are pleased to report that on June 6th, KRA/VIEW launched a ‘hiring blitz’ for NGI, and began referring qualified KRA/VIEW jobseekers, as well as candidates from the NWDC and the Norfolk-area community, for their consideration. When the dust finally settled, we had succeeded in filling more than 100 of the NGI openings for Cable Pullers, General Laborers, Riggers, Supervisors, and other positions. ‘Excited’ doesn’t begin to describe how we felt! We are grateful to NGI for placing their confidence and trust in the NWDC and KRA/VIEW operations, and stand ready to assist in the future with their hiring needs.”
