News
Employment Options Brings Services To Athens Mall
By: Susan Tebben
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For many, The Market On State is where to go for a driver’s license or to do some shopping. But for one community in Athens County, it now means jobs.
Photo by Susan Tebben / WOUB News
Employment Options, which is an arm of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, opened their doors today at the Athens mall with a ribbon-cutting and open house.
The office will offer services including PersonnelPlus Employment Services, School-To-Work Transition Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Contract Services through the state agency Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.
The new location is more centralized for those with disabilities who are looking to get jobs throughout the area, according to board superintendent Kevin Davis. It took about $40,000 to finish renovations and equip the office.
“This opportunity came along and this is the absolute perfect place for us to be,” Davis said. “It’s great visibility for us.”
The opportunities for those with disabilities have been in place since 1983, and Employment Options has given employment services to 500 people, with 100 currently employed around the region.
Dale Ellis told attendees of the open house about his job as a greeter at Texas Roadhouse, a job he wouldn’t have without the help of the agency. He thanked the employment services workers for their help in his journey, and gave advice to those still looking for jobs.
“If you get a job, you’re likely to face challenges,” Ellis said. “But you have to develop strategies to face those challenges.”
The agency has worked with several businesses throughout the area, but Shawna Stump’s State Farm office served as a testing site for the agency. At her office, potential employees were able to test skills and experience an office atmosphere.
From that experience, she gained an employee whose been with her for 11 years, and another just finished her first year.
Employment Options allowed Stump to access a workforce that Stump said was unique.
“It’s a great place to find employees that are loyal,” Stump said. “They want to work, they come in early, they stay until they’re supposed to, they’re just good people that want to do a job.”