Starting July 1, 2008, Maine people will be able to access information on jobs, training resources, and business services at several new service points in the region. Up until now, CareerCenter services were only available at CareerCenter offices in Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, and Millinocket.

"We are bringing CareerCenter services closer to the public and to communities we haven't served in the past," said Joanna Russell, Executive Director of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, and one of the partners working on the CareerCenter plan.

New service points will be announced soon in the following communities: Sullivan, Bucksport, Bar Harbor, Dexter, Greenville, Milo and Newport.

In Dover Foxcroft, itinerant CareerCenter services are planned at the Morton Avenue School beginning in July. The office at 50 Pinecrest Drive will be closed this week in preparation to expand services to other communities.

In Ellsworth, itinerant CareerCenter services such as employment workshops and events, will be available at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services at 17 Eastward Lane in Ellsworth.

Services at the Bangor and East Millinocket CareerCenters will remain unchanged.

The plan is part of a statewide CareerCenter consolidation that is shifting some full-time offices to service points that are shared with a local partner. The move saves money on infrastructure costs associated with lease and maintenance of office space as the CareerCenter system adjusts to ongoing reductions in federal funding. Other offices included in the consolidation include Houlton, Belfast and Saco. Service plans have also been developed for each of those regions.

CareerCenter service points will provide services based on needs of job seekers and employers in the area. Some of the services offered will include:

• job-search services for workers;
• employment workshops;
• veterans' services;
• information on wages and employment trends in Maine or in a local area; and
• resources for workers who want to access training or education programs.

Later this summer, CareerCenter customers will also be able to search the CareerCenter job bank online, on our new web-based service "Labor Exchange on the Net." This new tool will provide jobseekers access to employment listings 24 hours a day, seven days a week any place that internet service is available.. Instead of driving to a CareerCenter during business hours, jobseekers can look for jobs from home, school or the library at a time that is most convenient for them.

"We are excited about this opportunity to expand employment services for the public," said Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman. "In this time of limited budgets, we are making our dollars stretch further by changing the way the CareerCenter provides services. We believe this extra outreach in the community will allow the CareerCenter to get more Maine people into new jobs and training."

For more information about CareerCenter services for jobseekers and businesses in Penobscot, Hancock and Piscataquis Counties can be found online at www.mainecareercenter.com or by calling 207-561-4050 or 1-888-828-0568 (TTY: 207-561-4070)