The Community Workforce Partnership would combine both employee and employer services with work-first, wrap-around support services and one-stop single-point-of-entry philosophies to meet the needs of both job-seekers and potential employers as simply, quickly and seamlessly as possible. Its vision is a state-of-the-art building design and lay out, cutting-edge service technology, and a "customer first" staff philosophy. Customer input and feedback would be an integral part of the design process and ongoing operation and refinement of the service system.

Essential services would include, but not be limited to:

• Workforce Investment services: job readiness activities and job placement assistance for all ages, PROMISE JOBS, Unemployment Benefits administration, School-to-Work, Green Thumb, Vocational Rehabilitation, ESL classes and self-directed resource rooms.
• TANF/FIP services: cash public assistance, food stamps, medical and diversion activities.

• Critical family support services: Child care assistance, transportation, General Assistance, food, emergency shelter, WIC, energy assistance and Weatherization, housing assistance, clothing and furniture.

All services would be offered in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for the customer being served in a warm, welcoming, positive environment.

Primary partners would include DHS, IWD, Polk County, all Polk County cities, PROMISE JOBS, CIETC, DMACC, Des Moines Public Schools MTA, and employers who may either be located on-site or utilize fully-equipped interview rooms. Any other public or private entity may locate with the partnership to provide on-site training, support groups, workshops, GED classes, counseling and advocacy (mental health or domestic abuse, for example), bilingual support, legal services, transportation, child care or any related service.

Job-Seekers could access services at three levels:

• Self-serve: computer kiosks and resource rooms.
• Assisted: staffed information desks and roaming "hosts" to answer questions and provide instruction in use of facilities.
• Full-service: assessments, intensive support services, on-going case-management.

Employers would have access to a full array of products and services including:

• A connection to job-ready workers.

• Recruitment: the ability to recruit locally and nationally for position openings as well as prescreening of applicants for initial qualifications.
• Assessment: the ability to test or screen potential employees and current employees in a number of ways:
• WorkKeys – this is a program with the capability to test critical skills to assist with recruitment, hiring and training of employees who have the skills necessary to perform well on the job.
• Computer/Clerical Skills and Abilities – a computer-oriented testing program for typing, data entry and ten key.

• Expansion Pojects/Retraining: information on how to qualify for state dollars to train employees.
• Employer Resources: through a network of agencies and resources, businesses have experts at their fingertips on issues such as maintaining compliance with the laws, OSHA, Workers’ Compensation, hiring practices, unemployment insurance and labor market information. Center staff members are available to speak on subjects of interest to employers.
• Labor Market Information: up-to-date information on Prevailing Wage Determinations, Wage Surveys, Occupational Staffing Patterns, Fringe Benefits Surveys, Consumer Price Index and more.
• America’s Job Bank/America’s Talent Bank: assistance for the employer in linking up to electronic resumes produced by job seekers, as well as training and assistance on how to electronically post job openings onto an international web site.

A goal of mid-2004 has been set for securing a facility, either new or fully renovated, to house the Center and for relocating primary partner agencies and businesses.