Monticello, MN - As a result of the 2002 flooding in Wright County, Minnesota Workforce Centers received federal emergency disaster funding to employ workers displaced from businesses affected by the disaster. Rather than receive unemployment compensation, displaced workers were offered to join crews and receive hourly wages to work on restoring damaged homes. The program was managed through Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Servies Monticello branch, a Workforce system partner. At the start of the program, CMJTS coordinators were without tools to begin the work. Nechama stepped in to supply many of the tools, and provided one of its equipment trailers so that work could begin. As the program proceeded, additional tools were purchased with the special grant funds to supplement equipment Nechama had already provided. Now that the program is completed, Nechama has been offered the remaining equipment. This was to replace inventory that was lost or broken during the project, as well as provide any extra equipment as a show of appreciation for Nechama's early-on assistance.


l to r: Jim Mueller, Service Coordinator, Barbara Chaffee, CMJTS Executive Director, Michael Morris, Nechama Director, and LuAnn Glieden, Adult Service Coordinator.