Hundreds of Clay Countians got a firsthand look at the variety of free services available to both employers and job seekers at the Clay County JobSight on "JobSight Awareness Day," held Monday, Sept. 16—and got a free fish lunch in the bargain.

More than 120 visitors toured the Clay County JobSight at Daniel Boone Development Council in Manchester throughout that day and learned about the many state and federal workforce programs accessible there under a single roof

The highlights of the day-long event were a live radio broadcast from the Clay County JobSight on WTBK-FM 105.7 and the fried fish lunch cooked up by James Garrison, Clay County's judge-executive.

During the broadcast, Ollie Hall of WTBK interviewed satisfied JobSight customers, staff members from JobSight and several of its partner agencies, and representatives of Eastern Kentucky C.E.P., Inc. (EKCEP), the agency that operates the entire network of JobSight centers across 23 counties in eastern Kentucky.

The broadcast served as a way for staff members and customers to spread the word about the specific services offered there, especially the services for employers. Services for employers include applicant screening, application processing, job readiness activities, and more. JobSight services for people seeking a job include: job placement, career planning, skills assessment, GED courses, education and training information, student financial assistance, and assistance for older workers. JobSight can even take claims for unemployment insurance.

On-site visitors were greeted by representatives of several of the JobSight partner programs that offer their services there, including the Kentucky Dept. for Employment Services, Kentucky Dept. for Vocational Rehabilitation, Experience Works, and Workforce Investment Act programs.

One of the major attractions of the day was the JobSight's impressive Career Resource Center, where job seekers can use computers and the internet to help conduct their job search. The center also includes a fax machine, photocopier, a printer, resume-writing software and helpful books and videos on topics ranging from job interview techniques to time management.

Like all the programs offered at the JobSight, use of the Career Resource Center is free.

During the radio interviews, staff members and satisfied customers alike emphasized that the range of services available through the JobSight can serve people at any stage of their careers, not just just low-income individuals or young people.

"JobSight" is the brand name for the one-stop centers operated by EKCEP under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) which mandated the creation of one-stop workforce centers where customers can get access to the fully array of federal employment and training services. EKCEP's network of JobSight centers includes four comprehensive one-stop centers (like the Clay County JobSight), three JobSight Affiliate Sites and 68 JobSight Access Points.