Labor Department Hires Full-Time Case Worker To Serve Prince Of Wales Island Communities

Oct. 25, 2001
No. 01-86

Recognizing that dislocated workers need assistance in the Prince of Wales area, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development with a grant from the Center for Community of Sitka has hired a full-time case worker to provide employment and training assistance for Prince of Wales Island.

Lindy Grant has been hired to provide Prince of Wales residents with job search, screening, outreach, case-management, and follow-up services for eligible dislocated workers and low-income adults. In addition to her job training responsibilities, Ms. Grant will work on welfare-to-work projects throughout the region. 

"We're very fortunate to have the services of someone like Lindy Grant in Prince of Wales," said Labor Commissioner Ed Flanagan. "She is energetic, compassionate, and brings a very positive attitude to her work. The community is well served."

A full-time dislocated worker program was first funded for Prince of Wales in 1997 following the Ketchikan Pulp Company/Louisiana Pacific mill layoffs. Services were provided through an office located on the Ketchikan Pulp Company's Thorne Bay site. After two years, the Ketchikan Job Center office staff took over and continued to work with the community. On occasion case management services were provided from Juneau by phone, email and fax. 

The current project results from a new Request for Proposals released last summer. If the project is renewed for next fiscal year (FY '03), it will be valid through June 30, 2003. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will make the renewal determination by approximately April 2002.

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