CareerConnect Martin Supports Workers and Small Businesses Alike

CareerConnect Martin Supports Workers and Small Businesses Alike
 
Rhonda was exhausted. She was caring for a daughter with special needs while working overtime as an emergency dispatcher. After 12 years of the high-stress position, she needed something different, and she was having trouble finding it.
 
So, when a nonprofit representative helping her daughter recommended that she apply to participate in CareerConnect Martin, she made the call.
 
CareerConnect Martin, the flagship program of the nonprofit Martin Chamber Foundation, provides motivated workers like Rhonda with connections to local businesses that need to fill vacancies with skilled professionals. Program participants often require hard and soft skill development, help with job applications and resumes, and support with employment obstacles like transportation, tool, or childcare costs. 
 
“We talked about her skills and what she was looking to do,” said Career Coach Gina Masters. “We had a few meetings, and that’s when a front desk position became available here at the chamber office.”
 
It was quite a change of pace, and Rhonda qualified for the program’s Trial Employment Opportunity. This allowed her to train on the job for 120 hours at $15 an hour without risk to the employer. She didn’t have the required clothes for the position, so CareerConnect Martin helped her purchase professional outfits from a local resale shop.
 
Since the program began as a post-COVID pilot initiative of the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, the career coaches have helped 122 unemployed and underemployed people to overcome barriers to a good-paying, full-time careers.
 
Many clients are parents or have recently completed a prison sentence, which can require additional training or understanding from new employers. Sometimes, they require referrals to collaborating nonprofit agencies to receive additional services before they’re truly ready for full-time work.
 
CareerConnect Martin has an 83% success rate of matching participants with the more than 60 small business employers who have signed up for the program. They’re always looking for new businesses from all industry sectors to participate in the free program.
 
As for Rhonda, she completed her training and was hired as a full time Receptionist and Program Assistant with the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce. She’s been a valuable member of the team ever since.
 
Host a Trial Employee, get help with your hiring practices, and learn more about CareerConnect Martin and the Martin Chamber Foundation at www.martinchamberfoundation.org.