Leadville Workforce Center moves to CMC campus

Leadville's Colorado Workforce Center office has moved to the New Discovery building at CMC's Leadville campus. Here, employment specialist Sue Miller, standing, works with two clients in the new office. Photo Skip Lee

LEADVILLE – The boxes are unpacked and the Leadville Workforce Center is welcoming community members, job seekers and students to its new location at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus.

Jessica Valand is the director of the Northwest & Rural Resort Workforce Area of the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium. She said the move reflects the workforce center’s long and close partnership with Colorado Mountain College.

“Our two organizations are deeply committed to preparing the community for success in the workplace and beyond,” Valand said.

Leadville’s Colorado Workforce Center office has moved to the New Discovery building at CMC’s Leadville campus. Here, employment specialist Sue Miller, standing, works with two clients in the new office. Photo Skip Lee

Previously located downtown on Sixth Street, the Leadville Workforce Center first came to town in 1989. The center sees more than 400 clients in a given month and many more via phone and email, says Valand. From November through April, the Summit Stage shuttle transports riders to the CMC Leadville campus.

“When the fall semester begins, we look forward to CMC’s student population visiting our already busy office,” said Valand.

“This co-location is a win-win for our students,” said Rachel Pokrandt, CMC vice president and Leadville and Chaffee County campus dean. “They will have more workforce resources right on campus and workforce support from the community. This will also help community members feel more connected to the campus for further training and education. What both organizations do is a perfect complement.”

Like more than 50 workforce centers throughout the state, Leadville’s center offers a full array of services including access to computers, printers, scanners, phones, screening, assessments, job coaching and more.

“The Leadville Workforce Center is here to help the community in Lake County access good jobs and also to support businesses in sourcing the talent they need,” said Valand. “We are so looking forward to the positive impacts to the community.”

The Leadville Workforce Center is located in the New Discovery Academic Building, CMC Leadville, 901 S. Highway 24, Leadville. For more information Contact Sue Miller at 719-486-2428 or sue.miller@state.co.us, or visit www.colorado.gov/cdle.