12/20/2009 6:00:00 AM County uses stimulus money on jobs, aid
Stimulus Pie for Mohave County
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JC AMBERLYN/Miner
A project to finish the walking path along the Mohave Wash between Gordon and Northern avenues is being funded by stimulus money. A Colorado City construction company has been hired to finish the work. Click here to purchase this photo
KINGMAN - What does $4 million in stimulus money pay for in Mohave County? It allows 190 unemployed or underemployed Mohave County residents receiving the training and certification to start over in a new career field. It pays for more than 100 Kingman youth to learn on-the-job skills and training. It purchases meals for seniors, rent/utility assistance for low-income families, repaving of a road and the completion of a walking path.
According to Recovery.gov, the federal government's Web site to track stimulus dollars, Arizona was awarded $2.8 billion and has received nearly $8.2 million in funds.
Mohave County has received nearly $4 million in stimulus funds, some from the state and some directly from the federal government through grants and loans.
The majority of the funds for Mohave County, approximately $2.5 million, has gone to replace and add to grants for county housing, workforce and public health programs.
Of that $2.5 million, more than $396,000 funded a unique partnership between Mohave Community College and Mohave County One-Stop Career Center, the FastTrack Adult Education Program.
The program, created within 31 days and started in late September, is a rigorous, fast-paced education and training program at MCC in nine of the most in-demand job fields, such as medical coding, heating ventilation and air-conditioning technician, medical assistant and certified nursing assistant, said Mohave County Workforce Development Manager Jen Miles. The program also provides assistance with tuition, books, transportation costs and a training stipend. Students had to meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for the program.
"We had a very short time to put this together. This was a joint effort," Miles said. As soon as her department knew the stimulus funds were coming in, it contacted MCC. The college and Workforce Development were able to determine which of the college's job-training programs led to the most jobs in the area and could be compressed in a short amount of time.
More than 500 people from the tri-city area showed up to the Sept. 8 orientation for the program, Miles said. Of those 500 people, 190 enrolled in the program.
"It's a targeted program designed to lead directly to jobs, allow people to become self-sufficient and keep them and their families in their homes," said Miles. "It's proven successful."
According to the ARRA Workforce Newsletter, published by Miles' department, the first class of HVAC technicians graduated from the program within five weeks, with a 100-percent passing rate.
At least 11 students in the nursing assistant class have already graduated and have new jobs, and this Friday, 50 students in the medical coding class will take a bus ride to Phoenix to take their certification test, Miles said. Both MCC and Workforce Development expect to see more students graduate from the program in the next few weeks and months.
FastTrack
funding spent
Unfortunately, enrollment in the FastTrack program is closed, she said. The stimulus money for the FastTrack program has been spent and Workforce Development doesn't have the funding to continue it, not without another shot of stimulus funding. Which is exactly what the department is hoping for. Congress is already talking about the possibility of expanding stimulus funding in the new year, but no one knows if that will happen or not, Miles said.
However, there is another job-training program in the works, Miles said. The department has also received a $315,000 grant to partner with MCC and some of the renewable energy industries looking to move into the county, such as Hualapai Valley Solar or Albiasa Solar, she said.
The funds will be used to create a new curriculum at MCC that would train eligible residents to work at jobs in the new facilities, she said. The idea is to have students in the program graduate in time to be hired by the new energy companies.
Workforce Development, MCC and the solar companies are supposed to meet in the next few weeks to discuss what job skills and training the companies are looking for in new employees, Miles said.
Around $465,000 was also used to expand the Coyote youth work program this summer, Miles said. The county was able to triple the number of youth enrolled in the program.
In 2008, about 30 youth from the Kingman area were enrolled in the program. This year, more than 100 from the Kingman area were enrolled, she said.
The program teaches youth how to prepare, train and learn the skills to get and hold a job.
Besides sharpening residents' job skills, $330,000 in stimulus money has been allotted to help clear at least nine residential properties of health and zoning code violations.
More than $892,000 has been allocated to help around 100 low-income and eligible families with rent/utility assistance.
Workforce Development offers many of these services to eligible residents on a daily basis, but the additional dollars from the stimulus funding have helped the county expand some of these programs and help even more people, Miles said.
The county is also expected to receive more than $66,000 to expand the work of local service agencies such as the Salvation Army, local food banks and missions. According to the County Emergency Management Department, the funds must be used to help feed, shelter or offer rent/utility assistance.
Public works
Besides funds for job training, the county has also received stimulus dollars for Public Works projects.
The county expects to receive around $1 million in funds for two public works projects. The first is for pavement replacement on Northern Avenue between Stockton Hill Road and Bank Street.
The second project is to finish part of a walking path along the Mohave Wash between Gordon and Northern avenues. A construction company from Colorado City has been hired to finish the walking path.
Besides paving and housing projects, the county also received more than $408,000 to retrofit county buildings with more energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems. The idea is to save money with more efficient systems and provide installation jobs to local companies.
"We're doing this one person at a time," Miles said. "Having seen the results, I would opt to do this again."
For more information on Workforce Development programs, call the department at (928) 753-0723.
For more information on construction bid opportunities, check the Mohave County Procurement Department's Web site at www. co.mohave.az.us, click on the "Departments" tab and then on the "Procurement" link.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
NNP in GV. Atleast you went to class and were instructed enough to pass certification. I took an MCC class on building inspection and paid $600 out, but got nothing. The class instruction was a failure. Good luck as a receptionist. How much does it pay.
The gov should have used the money to encourage Wal Mart to open that Distribution Center at I-40 and Griffith off ramp. Then we'll have about 500 jobs not to mention all the companies that follow WAl Mart DC's!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I live in Golden Valley, and it certainly WAS in the Kingman Daily Miner, I answered the ad, was approved for the training--One Stop paid for my books, but a Pell Grant paid for tuition--I recieved three tanks of gas in 3 months from One Stop..was told they couldnt help with my utilities and mortgage, dental work, or nothing like that while others got their cars repaired, new tires, etc....also was on the bus saturday to phoenix, and am NOW being told they are putting my resume in for RECEPTIONIST positions rather then for the medical coding I trained for--as these "in high demand" jobs are NOT even available without experience! I graduated with a 4.0 grade average which at the moment, IS WORTH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
For what it's worth, Grateful student didn't call anyone an idiot. But if the shoe fits, wear it.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Think about what u say
@ GRATEFUL STUDENT… The main factor that has any validity is the YOU apparently live in LHC! Don’t tell me that we here in Kingman got the same information flow because we didn’t!! I also have not heard from anyone that I know that they went through this program. The paper is the first thing up on my computer every morning (both Kingman paper and BHC paper). So out of two papers, I never saw this so called ad you speak of. Now the fact that it may have been omitted from the online paper is a possibility, which is then the fault of the paper. Being that my unemployment barely pays the bills, I can’t afford to buy the paper and why should I when there is an online product for free.
So be grateful that you were one of “THE CHOSEN” but don’t try exclaiming that we whom had no knowledge of this opportunity are idiots!!!!
Posted: Monday, December 21, 2009
Article comment by:
Concerned Parent
Again, where did they get this information from? They are trying to say they spent or going to about 3 million on the county for jobs and aid? That is a total joke. I know of nobody who received rent, utility, or job training aid. MCC is completely corrupt now and it does not surprise how others have been treated; they treat everyone with the same rude manner, and nobody can really explain where all the money goes. I knew last year any monies in stimulus would be embezzled, lost, misappropriated, or used for the same crappy programs that do not work, changing nothing. All they did was guarantee their own jobs, trying to look busy, but helping nobody in realistic terms.
Again, I have known nobody, especially over 190 people who got re-training aid. I would like to see proof, but Mohave County probably lost those papers too.
Total lost cause.
Posted: Monday, December 21, 2009
Article comment by:
Grateful student
I am one of those many people that took the bus this last Saturday to take the certification test after being in the Fast Track program in LHC. The notice for the orientation meeting and sign-ups into this program were in all area papers for a week, with day and night sessions to attend at all 3 local MCC campuses to get info. I had just been at DES the very day the ad was put in and was informed by DES to look for it. I was still on a waiting list for help in getting employment for disabled persons, priority level 1, but the outlook of moving up the list wasn't good. So just because 1 DES worker didn't know doesn't mean jack for the program was through the Mohave Co. One-stop Career center which is affiliated with DES and unemployment. Also, yes, there were a lot of kinks to work out in the beginning because they had barely 2 weeks notice with which to put the program together and 2 more weeks to get it up and going or lose that and future funding altogether. That meant 3 campuses and 3 county offices trying to coordinate classes and hire teachers for all 3 locations, as well as sorting through the qualifying applicants of over 500 people. They did well considering the contraints, sometimes working past midnight most days and their vacations were all cancelled too, but they did it! I, for one, am grateful for opportunity and my hard work in doing 18 college credit hours in 2 months was my way of showing it. It was hard working 8 hour days in class with 4-6 hours of homework everyday, like a job but no pay off until the end and it isn't over yet, but I was willing to do it. You'd be surprised how many people whined because they weren't just handed the whole kit and kibboodle without applying themselves and either dropped out or did the least they could do and then just shrugged their shoulders and said "it ain't my money, so what if I don't pass," all the while asking the program for paid daycare, new tires, car repair, rent, etc. Had some been patient in the beginning and understanding that the program was new they would've had the answers to the travel reembursement questions for they will be paying my gas when I have to drive to Kingman every day in the next set of classes so I can move forward in my education and that's more than I can ask for. They paid for my books, my dues, my tuition, the ceritfication test fees and the bus and hotel to be there to take it in Phoenix. This program isn't a "hand-out", it's a hand-up for those that really want and need it, and with this economy we all need the help. So pay attention to the next 1/4 page ad next time and you might be blessed enough to get into the next phase of this program, but don't expect it to just be handed to you, you have to be looking for these great opportunities.
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
realist
Hey citizen patriot II:
You mean entitlement like the DPS officer who died this week? How about the NYPD and other cops who died on 9/11; you forget about them? How about our guys like Mark Chastain (shot a few years ago and then saved a life this summer), Tim Sparr, etc.? Entitlement like that?
Or are you speaking of the few (1 percenters) who make a bad name for all the other coppers out there? I also didn't know law enforcement was in charge of ARRA!
Say... are you one of those conspiracy fellas?
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
citizen patriot II
every one of the beneficiaries of this largesse should bow down thre times and thank those responsible - once towards China, once towards London & Washington D.C. (the semitic bankers and their fearful accomplices), and at least once before your grandchildren who wil be saddled with both the $4 million debt and all its accompanaying interest. I don't recommend bowing before law enforcement (those who will enforce the process to the inglorious end). You'll develop back problems and only encourage their sense of entitlement.
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
PAST FRUSTRATION
How was this information obtained to get involved in this? I am on unemployment due to lay-offs and yet I was never informed of this? How did they choose the people to be informed because I can assure you it was selectively done. I have twice now applied for assistance from the workforce connection. After not hearing from them after the first time I applied, I went to the employment office to get assistance in the matter. Eventually I was told there was a shift in employees there and paperwork was lost.
So I went down and applied again. That was back in September. I still to this day have not received a response from them nor do they return my phone calls. So I guess I should ask”How do you get into the right ‘CLICK’ in this town” to be able to have the use of all this stimulus monies that seem to be only going to the good old boys’ best friends!!!!
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
FAST TRACKED TAXATION
Im all for training in any way shape or form that it comes to this town BUT I wasnt aware that either of these solar projects had been approved at the time of this special training specifically for these plants.
This FAST TRACKING of our tax dollars is astonishing. Makes you wonder how much is being wasted and or spent on WHATVEVER just becasue they have it in their grubby little hands.
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
tabatha
so wheres the jobs fool
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Sick to my stomach...........
The "Fast Track" program was slapped together with out even talking to DES. I was there for that circus, MCC and Fast track Failed to work all the bugs out before putting this into action. I had a hard time with some of the snotty staff at the college, as they treated some of us as less than perfect. I asked a question to the girls working the table, i recieved a snotty attitude, another older guy asked the same question as i did a minute before, he recieved the same treatment.
Needless to say we both were disgusted with the way this was presented & with MCC, first we were told the electrical & HVAC classes were going to be held in ALL 3 locations, when it came down to it, the classes were ONLY in BHC & LK Havasu. When asked about gas vouchers, they was not 100% sure, when asked if this would affect anyone collecting un-employment benefits, we got the same answer.
I went to DES the next day to ask, i was told i was the 5 or 6th person to ask the same question that day, i was also informed that DES WAS NOT TOLD until the day MCC & Fast Track were doing the presentation. This come directly from an DES case worker! No communication between what should matter.
This is peoples lives here, i for one am completely SICK of it, as soon as i can, I AM GONE. Mohave County, Kingman are a JOKE. You can keep the 'good ole boys' i'm out.....
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
john
walk way is dumm roads need more repair !
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Need to Know
Why is all those Graders being parked at the County Maint. yard ! Off of Sunshine ! They should be out working ???
