Metropolitan Community College’s new Fremont Area Center at 835 N. Broad St. is a tremendous asset to Fremont and the local community.
The ongoing development of the Fremont Area Center greatly increases the number of educational opportunities for potential students in our community. Besides offering great two-year programs, it also can provide a path for those looking to move into a four-year school like Midland Lutheran College. The new learning facility is also an awesome place for non-traditional students who may want to enroll in a class or two to increase their marketability in the workplace or simply improve their quality of life.
Besides all of the great educational opportunities for local residents, Metropolitan Community College also has allowed us at the Nebraska Workforce Development-Department of Labor to expand our services by partnering with them at this new facility. Since the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 it has been our goal to create One Stop Career Centers across the state. The creation of the Fremont Area Center is a significant step toward a true One Stop for our community.
What is a One Stop Career Center? A One Stop Career Center is designed to provide a full range of assistance to job seekers under one roof. People can visit a One Stop and gather information about career counseling, educational opportunities, interview guidance, job searching, resume help, training referrals and unemployment insurance benefits, among other things.
The dream of a One Stop in Fremont began earlier this decade for Nebraska Workforce Development. The size of our current location at 406 E. Sixth St. physically limited our ability to add more partners, and expansion of the facility wasn’t an option. Alternatives, such as constructing a brand new facility and renovating other existing buildings in the area, also were considered by state officials, but the costs were prohibitive.
Fortunately, in 2007 Metropolitan Community College purchased the old Fremont Junior High School building and asked Nebraska Workforce Development to partner with them. Recognizing the value that a partnership with the community college would bring to the citizens of the area, we did not hesitate to say accept their offer and said "yes."
Nebraska Workforce Development currently has successful partnerships with several community colleges, including Central Community College at a One Stop Career Center in Columbus, as well as Southeast Community College at a One Stop facility in Beatrice. These relationships fit like a glove for us, and provide significant benefit to the public.
Metropolitan Community College has made a considerable financial commitment to this facility and to our city. The move to a true One Stop for the Fremont Area Center will come in phases, and we are very proud to be part of the first phase. Renovations on our part of the building have been completed and our move to the facility should be completed in May.
While the Fremont Career Center has enjoyed great success at our current location, we believe this move will only enhance our ability to reach our clients and obviously strengthen our partnership with the college. We hope to extend our service options through other partner agreements that will contribute to our ability to further serve our citizens through the Fremont One Stop Career Center in the future.
Vision and leadership often go unrecognized, but the fruits of such are abundant and have long-term effects. We are pleased to partner with Metropolitan Community College in an endeavor to bring workforce development opportunities and solutions to Fremont and the surrounding area. With the drive, determination, and help of their president, Jo Ann McDowell, and the executive director of the Fremont Area Center, Todd Hansen, this facility is something everyone in the community can be proud of. It will benefit our future workforce for years to come.
Ryan Hansen is employment services supervisor with Nebraska Workforce Development-Department of Labor.
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