Center For Employment Services

The Center for Employment Services (CES) is a Moving Forward initiative of the Charlotte Housing Authority to promote employment and self-reliance in West Charlotte. According to CHA, one of the largest barriers to employment that clients in its portfolio face is lack of job skills or training. CES focuses on addressing this issue. To ensure the employment services were accessible, CHA chose a location in West Charlotte on the CATS bus line.

Located at the corner of Caronia Street and Clanton Road, CES provides space to local service providers to bring career development opportunities to the area. Current partners residing at the center include: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board, Jacob’s Ladder Job Center West, The Benefit Bank, and City Dive, Inc.

Partners

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board selected the site to be a SHARE Access point for West Charlotte, a place where people in the community may work with trained volunteers to search for jobs online.

Jacob’s Ladder Job Center West

Jacob’s Ladder Job Center West provides a month long, 4-step job readiness class that prepares job seekers to find and keep a job. Subject matter covered in the class includes: resume writing, mock interviews, and work ethics. Also, instructor work with clients to develop the computer skills necessary for today's job seekers such as filling out online applications and how to use e-mail. The program continues to work with clients even after they find a job to ensure they have everything they need to maintain employment

The Benefit Bank

The Benefit Bank (TBB) of NC is a web-based service at CES that simplifies and centralizes the process of applying for many state and federal benefits for low- and moderate-income individuals. Through its eligibility screening tool, TBB can ensure that people are aware of entitled benefits and help maximize the benefits and tax refunds they can secure. The "one-stop-shop" approach also saves time.

City Dive, Inc.

City Dive is a faith-based organization that provides evening job readiness classes at CES for clients who cannot attend classes during the day. Topics covered during the sessions include: financial empowerment, career development, and GED preparation.

Additional support for the Center for Employment Services has come through donations from Bank of America in the amount $25,000 for facility operations, Fifth Third Bank in the amount $10,500 for computer lab upfits, and IBM with approximately $10,000 in furniture donations. Also, building maintenance is being delivered by Crosland, Inc. through an operating agreement with the adjacent Arbor Glen site, which is part of the Charlotte Housing Authority’s second HOPE VI revitalization.

Success Measures

Number of clients in training and/or educational programs
Number of clients who secure employment
Increase in client wages

Center Needs

CES is in need of additional volunteers to assist in training, businesses who are hiring and need access to a trained workforce, donations to help with the building’s operating costs, and of course, people to continue to come in and access the employment services offered. Through these partnerships, volunteers, and donations, CES will be able to assist and better prepare citizens to secure employment. To find out more about CES, please call (704) 714-4051.

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CES Overview Handout