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Iowa Workforce Development
Region 3&4
Serving Northwest Iowa

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Region 3&4 Workforce
Development Centers

 

Regions 3 & 4 News

Man reading newspaperIowa Workforce Development has developed a Business Directory listing for our business customers that allows business websites to link directly to the IWD website and in turn, give thousands of customers access and exposure to business information! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your local Iowa Workforce Development Office.

IWD offices in Algona, Spencer, and Orange City are  open from  8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  You may call Algona at (515) 295-7219 or Fax (515) 295-6916,
Spencer at (712) 262-1971 or Fax (712) 262-1963,  or Orange City at  (712) 707-9870 or Fax: (712) 707-9872.

The Estherville Iowa Workforce Development office is open Mondays and Thursdays only from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.  IWD'S Estherville office is located at 620 First Avenue South.  The phone number is (712) 362-7327, and the fax number is (712) 362-7742.  

IWD and Iowa State University Extension began sharing office space in Emmetsburg in 2003, the first collocation between the two agencies in Iowa.  Located in the former Carnegie Library at 2008 10th Street, IWD services will continue to be available to area residents from 9 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on  Tuesdays and Fridays.  The phone number is (712)- 852-3412 and the fax number is (712) 852-3175.

Two additional ways to file claims for unemployment insurance are available. Customers using Iowa Workforce Development computers can use the new "Intranet" application in our offices. Just tell a staff member that you have keyboarding skills and would like to enter your own claim for benefits. A new "Internet" application is available on any personal computer with an Internet connection, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Access Points

Iowa law requires Iowa Workforce Development products and services be accessible to residents in all 99 counties of Iowa.  In Dickinson, Lyon and Osceola counties, access is provided through Iowa State University Extension.  In O'Brien County this access is provided through Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.  These sites provide customers access to job listings, word processing and spreadsheet programs with Microsoft Office and résumé making software, as well as the Internet and all IWD web-based applications.  Customers are able to register for IWD services, search for jobs, and file for Unemployment Insurance benefits from these locations.  IWD pamphlets and brochures are also available.  There is no charge for any of these services. 

The Dickinson County ISU Extension office is located at 1600 15th Street, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Office Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Osceola County Extension office in Sibley is located at 839 Third Ave.  Office hours are 8 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Monday through Thursday, and 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. on Fridays.  The Lyon County Extension office in Rock Rapids is at 710 N 2nd Avenue East, Suite 103.  That office is open Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.  The access in Sheldon is located at Northwest Iowa Community College, 603 West Park Street, Building A.  PC users should be at least 14 years of age, and should not be accompanied by small children.  Use is on a first-come, first-serve basis, but availability may be limited on occasion due to space or staff needs.

For more information, call your nearest Iowa Workforce Development Office.

Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions that have been asked most frequently of Iowa Workforce Development staff are now available online.  Questions are listed in over 20 different topics.  Just click here.

Office Proficiency Assessment & Certification Available to Employers

Iowa Workforce Development is offering the Office Proficiency Assessment & Certification (OPAC) System to assist area businesses in screening job applicants.  The OPAC System is a suite of PC-based tests that measure abilities in specific applications using a "live software" approach, including MS Word®, MS Excel®, MS PowerPoint, MS Access®, Lotus 1-2-3, and WordPerfect®.  It also offers general clerical tests, such a keyboarding, 10-key, data entry, filing and proofreading.  In addition, OPAC includes financial tests for bank reconciliation, deposits, petty cash, and basic math skills. 

Best of all the OPAC System is provided at no charge to area businesses.  If your company is interested in using the OPAC System to assess job applicant's skills, please call your local Iowa Workforce Development office.

Lakes Area Employers' Council meetings & seminars:

  • The Lakes Area Employers' Council will hold a seminar from August 17 to 20, 2010.  This will cover Construction OSHA (two days) and General Industry OSHA (two days) at HyVee in Spencer.  This is a joint meeting with Kossuth County ECI.

  • The Lakes Area Employers' Council will hold a meeting on September 22 at Noon at Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer. The topic will be  “Using the NCRC process to Hire Qualified Applicants” – If you wish to upgrade the skill level of your workforce and/or hire applicants with a specific, verifiable, skill levels, then this workshop is for you.  Craig Immerfall, Business Service Rep of Iowa Workforce Development and Debbie Clark of Iowa Lakes will demonstrate how this can be done. 

  • Lakes Area Employers' Council will be meeting on October 20, 2010 at Noon at Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer.  Lori Adams, Iowa Workforce Development will speak on “What’s New at Iowa Workforce Development.”  Lori is Division Administrator of Iowa Workforce Development and was the former Regional Manager for Regions 3, 4, and 12 (14 counties, 9 offices) of Northwest Iowa.   She will give you a bird’s eye view of some of the new changes and initiatives at Iowa Workforce Development and their impact on the various clientele we serve (including the business community). 

  • Lakes Area Employers' Council will be meeting on November 17, 2010 at Noon  at  Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer. Lois Stillman will speak on “Pandemics and Bio-Terrorism – Making Your Workplace Safe”.  A very timely topic given all the Bird Flu, HN1N viruses, threats of bio-terrorism, etc. we have seen in the news as of late.  Fall tends to be a time when these flu epidemics occur.  Do you have a plan in place?  Come see what your handbook plan should include. 

  • Lakes Area Employers' Councill will meet on March 30, 2011 with time and location to be determined.  Kathy Peterson of PeopleWorks Inc will be the presenter.

     

For more information or to pre-register, call Bob Becker at (712) 262-1971 x 126 or e-mail him at Robert.Becker@iwd.iowa.gov

Kossuth County Employers' Council meetings & seminars:

  • The Kossuth County Employers' Council will hold a seminar from August 17 to 20, 2010.  This will cover Construction OSHA (two days) and General Industry OSHA (two days) at HyVee in Spencer.  This is a joint meeting with the Lakes Area Employers' Council.

  • Kossuth County Employers' Council will meet on March 30, 2011 with time and location to be determined.  Kathy Peterson of PeopleWorks Inc will be the presenter.

     

All businesses and employers are invited to attend. Schedule is subject to change.   Please pre-register for all meetings with Paula Seely,  515-295-4602, or e-mail at  seelyp@mercyhealth.com

Upper Northwest Iowa Employers' Council (ECI) Meetings:

  • The Upper Northwest Iowa Employers’ Council will meet at 11:30 a.m. on August 18, 2010 in the “Classroom” at 400 Central Avenue Northwest in Orange City. This is on the upper level of the building.  Tim Heerts, the Director of EAP Services and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with KeySolutions EAP in Sioux Falls, will give a presentation on preventing suicide. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Noon on Monday, August 16.

  • The Upper NW Iowa Employers' Council will be holding a 10 hour OSHA General Industry Training Seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 21 & 22 at the Iowa Workforce Development office, 400 Central Ave NW, Orange City. 

  • The Upper NW Iowa Employers' Council will be meeting on Friday, October 22 from 9:00 A.M. to Noon at the Iowa Workforce Development office, 400 Central Ave NW, Orange City.  This will be an ADA/FMLA/ Workers Comp Seminar entitled "The Bermuda Triangle of Employment Law".  Guest speakers will be Tom Good, Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Rich Tesarek, US Dept of Labor, and Ron Pohlman, Iowa Workers Comp Division.   Moderator will be Barb Tapscott, Iowa Workforce Development Attorney.

For information about Upper Northwest Iowa Employers' Council, contact Ann Conner at (712) 707-9870.

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