Historic investment brings services to West Dayton
It is Ohio’s first “new employment services office in decades,” said John Trott, executive director of the Greater Ohio Workforce Board, referring to the new Employment Opportunity Center (EOC).
Built at a cost of $2 million in a space that formerly housed an Aldi grocery store in Westown Shopping Center on West Third Street, the EOC opened Oct. 28 and is now fully operational. It is an exciting development for west Dayton and surrounding communities with many features for job seekers and families.
Resume development, job search assistance and interview coaching are all offered in our EOC, along with access to a bank of computers and much more. “Basically, anything you can get from Job Services at The Job Center is right here at Westown,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman.
“If you are transportation challenged, it can take you 50 minutes to get to The Job Center on the bus line from
this neighborhood,” Lieberman added. “This means that travel alone can take you nearly two hours roundtrip, which is a significant challenge — especially if you have young children with you. That’s yet another reason this location is so important. What a great investment in the people of west Dayton!”
The Community Room at the EOC offers modern video conferencing technology and art featuring historic figures from the region. Through a partnership with Sinclair Community College, information technology training will also be offered. Some participants who complete the training will become interns within the County’s IT department, and these classes also serve a greater need for IT professionals in the community.
The Community Rooms will also host meetings for Montgomery County’s Male and Female Leadership Academies. These mentorship programs pair young people between the ages of 14 and 16 with professionals that can help them with employment skills, setting goals and maintaining healthy habits and relationships. The Community Rooms can also be utilized by organizations looking for a meeting space.
Miami Valley Career Technology Center personnel will help citizens earn a high school equivalency diploma at the EOC. Members of the County’s Family Assistance Division will be available through our JFS On The Move outreach program. They will help residents with food and cash assistance applications as well as Medicaid and subsidized child care.
Anyone interested in learning more about the new Employment Opportunity Center can call 937-496-7002.