News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 20, 2002
Contact:  Kirsten Kendrick, Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Kristin Alexander, WorkFirst Media Relations Coordinator, 360-902-9307

Gov. Gary Locke Honors Businesses for Helping Families Move from Welfare to Work

Gov. Gary Locke today recognized close to 70 businesses for providing jobs that help strengthen Washington’s economy and break the cycle of poverty for families who have made the transition from welfare to work.

“Today we celebrate and recognize the power of opportunity and the power of helping people improve their lives,” Locke told employers during an awards ceremony at South Seattle Community College.

This is the first year the governor has presented awards to show appreciation for Washington state businesses that have contributed to the success of WorkFirst, the state’s successful five-year-old welfare reform program. Employers were nominated by WorkFirst and named “WorkFirst Ambassadors.”

Since 1997, business partners have helped more than 125,000 WorkFirst parents leave welfare and stay off. Last year alone, about 30,000 WorkFirst participants found jobs.

“These are tough times,” Locke said. “WorkFirst is an example of how we will beat this recession. The program brings business, government, education and people in need together. The result is a program that benefits all of us.”

Locke told the audience everyone wins with WorkFirst. Participants become more self-reliant, businesses gain valued employees and save on hiring and training costs, communities receive more tax revenue and government reduces its welfare costs, he said. “Costs go down and employment goes up. That’s definitely a winning combination.”

The number of families on welfare in Washington state has dropped by 45 percent since 1997 to about 52,500 – the lowest caseload in nearly 20 years. State spending on welfare grants has been cut by a third. The proportion of the state population on welfare is less then 2.5 percent, the lowest level in more than 30 years.

The governor said businesses are a key part of that success.

An example of a WorkFirst success story is LiveBridge, which operates call centers that provide customer service to other companies. LiveBridge has hired about 100 WorkFirst participants at its Olympia and Auburn offices.

LiveBridge recruiter Bill Dean said the company has substantially saved on recruitment costs because of services provided by WorkFirst and WorkSource, Washington’s one-stop career service centers.

LiveBridge also coordinates with local community colleges to offer pre-employment training to WorkFirst participants.

“We’re able to give someone a hand up, which we’re quite proud of,” said Dean.

Locke said the state needs more programs like WorkFirst.

“Instead of perpetuating the poverty cycle, we are breaking it,” he said. “Instead of throwing huge amounts of money into welfare, we’re helping people escape welfare to become contributors to our economy. WorkFirst helps participants gain employment. And it helps our state keep pace with the workforce demands of the 21st century. It puts people to work and teaches them how to stay employed and continue to succeed.”

WorkFirst services are administered by the state’s Department of Social and Health Services, Employment Security Department, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

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A complete list of businesses that received recognition follows this release.

Agbar Technologies, Kent: Provides entry-level jobs for WorkFirst (WF) participants. Recruiters regularly attend Job Clubs and hiring events.

Airborne Express, Seattle: Recruited and hired WF participants for many years.

American Boiler Works, Everett: Custom metal fabricator hired five students from a welding training program.

Bank of America, Seattle: Hired many WF participants, offered a successful onsite English as a Second Language program, and participated in programs to train WF participants in information technology and banking careers.

Bank of America, Spokane: Regularly makes staff available to speak to WF participants and frequently shares in the celebration at graduation. This company sets the bar, is a great example of the perfect industry partner with its in-depth and involved participation.

Canam Steel, Sunnyside: A WF participant employed by the company was able to purchase a home, become self-sufficient and better his family’s life.

Cashmere Convalescent Center, Cashmere: Hired many WF participants, attended focus groups and spoke publicly about the community benefits associated with hiring WF participants. Employees are encouraged to continue their education and aspire to promotions.

ClientLogic, Yakima: Hired many WF participants, works with Yakima Community College to develop a pre-employment training program for WF participants. Offers a positive environment.

Eagle Healthcare-Pinewood Branch, Colville: Hired more than 20 WF participants. Offered training for individuals with low skill levels.

East Vancouver Child Care Center, Vancouver: Provided internships for WF participants in the Early Childhood Education Program at Clark College, transitioned students into careers at pre-schools and child care centers. Hired eight WF participants since 2001.

Expedia, Tacoma: Participates in a consortium to develop customer relations training curriculum for local community and technical colleges. A mother of three who completed the course stated, “What a wonderful feeling – two years of not working and now I have the kind of career I have always dreamed about … I was able to open my first checking account in 10 years.”

First Student, Seattle: Recruits WF participants and assists new employees in receiving a commercial license required to drive a school bus.

Fred Meyer, Seattle: Has participated in WF hiring events for years and hired many WF participants in the King County area.

Fred Meyer Longview, Longview: Helped develop customer service training and provide instruction for WF participants, participated in “job shadow ” programs, and hired many current and former WF participants.

Frito Lay, Vancouver: Hired workers in food production, warehouse and management positions, and assisted those with low skills and special needs.

Golden Sands at Klipsan Beach, Long Beach: A WF participant hired by the company three years ago was able to leave assistance, build her self-esteem and prove that she was able to make a permanent transition from welfare to work.

Grocery Outlet, Seattle: Received recruitment assistance and provided interviewing space to establish workforce. Hired 19 WF participants for business opening.

Group Health, Tukwila: Participates in job fairs, sponsors pre-employment medical training, gives presentations regarding medical occupations, and promotes the benefits of employing disadvantaged parents.

Gunderson Northwest, Kennewick: Hired 10 Russian-American WF participants with limited English proficiency.

Happy Days Corporation, Lewiston: Offered many valuable opportunities for employment in the restaurant industry. Staff stay and move up in the corporation, or move on to other opportunities with excellent and respected experience.

HealthNet Federal Services, Tacoma: Participates in a consortium to develop customer relations training curriculum at local community and technical colleges, participates in career days, gives presentations to WF classes and interviews students as jobs become available.

HMS Host, SeaTac: Hired many WF participants, participates in job fairs and actively supports the Airport Jobs program.

Hoquiam Licensing Agency, Hoquiam: Hired WF participants, spoke on behalf of WF and WorkSource, and serves as a protective payee for children of welfare recipients.

ICT Group, Inc., Spokane: Since opening a call center two years ago, ICT Group has hired more than 200 WF participants, provided customer service training, and attended Job Search workshops.

Innovative Composite Engineering, Inc., Bingen: Participates in the Community Jobs program, providing work experience, training and intensive mentoring for WF participants with employment barriers.

Jack in the Box, Seattle: Hired many WF participants and participated in hiring events.

Jefferson County District Courthouse, Port Townsend: Hired a single mother with limited work experience, offering her living wages and opportunities to prove her ability to offer exceptional public service and provide for her family.

Liberty Country Place, Centralia: Continuing care and rehabilitation facility hired WF participants with little or no work experience. Offers certified nurse assistant training and on-site daycare for employees.

LiveBridge, Olympia and Auburn: Coordinate with local community colleges to offer pre-employment training to WF participants in areas such as customer service and computer data entry.

Lynden Door, Inc., Lynden: Hired several graduates of a WF pre-employment training program. Also helped develop curriculum, participates in WF employer meetings, gives on-site tours and endorses WF.

McDonald’s, Clarkston: Has employed WF participants since the beginning, offers advancement opportunities. Some WF participants are now managers.

Microsoft, Redmond: Assisted in planning and hiring WF participants through the Governor ’s Information Technology training project. Recruiters and hiring managers gave presentations at Job Clubs and provided consultation WF staff on hiring processes.

MultiCare Health Systems, Tacoma: Part of a consortium effort to develop customer relations training at local community and technical colleges. Hired WF participants. One WF employee was later offered a full-time position at a large medical specialist office in Seattle.

Nationwide Credit Service (NCS), Inc., Longview: Hired WF (WF)participants during the last two years and willing to train participants who may need extra help securing a job in the local labor market. They offer a safe and friendly work environment and give WF participants an opportunity to work, advance and learn a variety of transferable skills.

Oberto Sausage Company, Kent: Joined WF recruitment and hiring events and plans to remain a partner.

Palouse Hills, Pullman: Hired a number of WF participants, helped several train to advance.

Providence Everett Medical Center, Everett: Worked with the full spectrum of WF programs, including Community Jobs, Welfare to Work, Pre-Employment Training, and community college internships. Company core values: compassion, caring for each person as if they are truly part of a family; justice, they work for a fair and equitable society; and respect.

QFC, Bellevue: Involved with WorkFirst recruitment and hiring events for many years. Has contributed to WF ’s success by hiring many King County WF participants.

REI, Sumner: WF participants have gained work experience and soft skills, enabling them to transition to better positions with higher wages.

Safeway, Olympia: Participates with WF and WorkSource to offer jobs. Has a weekly presence in the local WorkSource office for recruitment purposes.

Safeway, Port Angeles: A human resource specialist for Safeway in Bellevue began as an entry-level clerk many years ago. She made a commitment to be a WF partner and fostered a partnership with the four regional Safeway stores on the Olympic Peninsula. She drove four hours each way to attend the pre-employment class’s first graduation last spring.

Safeway, Port Townsend: Several students were hired into entry-level positions and soon progressed into higher paying jobs. One participant living in Jefferson County said the training changed her life. It enabled her to have stable work and to support her family.

Safeway, Rainier: Offered valuable employment opportunities with potential for skill development and wage progression.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Pullman: Offered many employment and advancement opportunities to WF participants in the area. The company works at creating an employee-friendly environment.

Sears, Roebuck and Company, statewide: Has long supported the WF effort, hired many participants, and offered training and advancement.

Second Harvest, Spokane: Acts as host for the Warehousing and Material Handling Customized Job Skills Training Program for WF in Spokane. Has added tremendous value to the development and implementation of the program, and have hired many qualified graduates.

Starbucks, Seattle: Participated in the WF program’s recruitment and hiring events for many years and hired many of the WF participants in the King County area.

St.Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane: Willing to cross train participants by scheduling them to split their time among several departments, providing exposure to different career opportunities. They’ve been flexible in accommodating participants enrolled in educational components outside their Community Jobs training, such as GED and computer classes. WF participants who have obtained unsubsidized employment with St. Luke ’s have secured permanent positions with family wages and benefits. St.Luke’s also promotes from within, providing an opportunity for growth and advancement.

Stevens Healthcare, Edmonds: Worked with Community Jobs, Welfare to Work, P re-Employment Training, community college internships. Has embraced WF participants, regardless of social, financial or other barriers they may face.

Stonebridge, Vancouver: Trains WF participants in a community college Nursing Assistant Certified program and provides volunteer training programs, including program coordinator and nursing assistant positions.

Stretch Island Fruit Leather Company, Allyn: Participates with WF and WorkSource to provide jobs and keep their good employees. Actively promotes the WF program to other businesses.

Subway/Texaco, Forks: Honored for continued support in helping WF participants gain employment and achieve self-sufficiency.

Swedish Medical Center, Seattle: Involved with WF program and recruitment and hiring events for many years and contributed to the program ’s success by hiring many WF participants in the King County area.

TEAM, Total Employment and Management, Moses Lake: Offered many WF participants their first jobs. Many positions led to permanent employment.

Toys R Us, Tukwila: Formed a partnership with WF on the national level and hired many WF participants in the King County area.

Trans System, Spokane: Since the beginning of WF, this business has trained WF participants to become drivers through its Driver Training Solutions facility. Of the hundreds referred for training, 240 WF customers went to work and left welfare. Some are now earning more than $50,000 per year with full benefits.

Triumph Treatment Services, Yakima: Offers a training environment where participants can gain the professional skills needed to gain their desired employment. Triumph invests a tremendous amount of time in building self-esteem and dignity in WF participants, creating a rewarding effect on the individual, family and community.

UPS, Redmond and Seattle: Involved with WF recruitment and hiring events since the beginning, and hired many WF participants in the King County area.

University of Washington Physicians, Seattle: Loyal supporter of the WF Medical Office training program at Edmonds Community College, their dedication to and interest in the students goes beyond any immediate benefit to their organization. They willingly educate students on what it takes to be successful in the workplace.

Value Village (Savers, Inc.), Bellevue: Gives fun, informative presentations to WF participants on how to buy work apparel on a budget. Supports WF goals in helping participants achieve self-sufficiency and improving life skills.

Wal-Mart, Chehalis: A WorkSource partner, Wal-Mart takes advantage of Job Club sessions. Employers speak to prospective applicants about hiring practices, expectations and opportunities for new employees. They prepare the applicant for their hiring process, which reduces time spent with unprepared applicants and reduces turnover in the long term.

Wal-Mart, Walla Walla: Provides career opportunities for each and every one of their employees as part of their corporate philosophy. Offers WF participants wage progression, a career path, stable and secure employment, and extended company benefits for the family.
Encourages all employees to participate in company training and take an active roll in company meetings, events, and community outreach.

Wal-Mart, Othello and Ephrata: A store manager reactivated pre-employment training for WF customers at Big Bend Community College and persuaded other store managers to support WF efforts. Used WorkSource services during start-up phase and hired nearly 600, including many WF participants. Helped with mock-interviews, curriculum and technical support. Another manager also created supportive work environments that led to raises and awards for WF participants.

Wal-Mart, Okanogan: Participated in job search workshops, advised job seekers on what employers look for in prospective employees and gave tips on the interviewing process.

Wal-Mart, Omak: Offers valuable entry-level positions for WF participants, allowing them to gain critical work, communication and people skills in a supportive environment. Participates in job search workshops and advises job seekers on employer perspectives.

Washington Mutual, statewide: Became a partner nearly five years ago and has hired many WF participants through the years, trained and advanced them. Bank demonstrates the belief that a workforce that reflects its customer base benefits its business.

WestCoast Hotel, Pasco: Receptive to interviewing, hiring, training and promoting WF clients. “We have employed more than 200 WorkFirst workers in the Tri-Cities area. WorkFirst workers are hard-working, dedicated employees – good people to have in our company.”


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