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 About the BRN

The Business Resource Network (BRN) serves to support business and promte employment by helping businesses solve workforce-related problems and to help people make successful career transitions.  When a business is interested in seeking the BRN's assistance with their unique business challenges, the business' owner (or CEO/key leader) makes contact with a member of the BRN to discuss how the business and the BRN might work together. Partners/member os the BRN include: Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Oregon Employment Department, Economic Development of Central Oregon, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Central Oregon Community College, Oregon Economic and Community Development Deptartment and the Oregon Department of Human Services.

To read more about the BRN and to learn about specific services use the links below.  You can also download our brochure and/or strategic plan or contact Andrew Spreadborough at the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council 541-504-3310 or at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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About COWIB 

The Central Oregon Workforce Investment Board coordinates the region's workforce related services, and is made up of public and private employer members.  The board meets quarterly to exchange information and to discuss ways to improve the workforce and economic climate in Central Oregon.  COWIB's vision is that WorkSource Central Oregon is recognized universally for delivering excellent business and employment related services.

The new Lowe's facility in Bend, Oregon was under construction when Kevin Dudley, the Store Manager, arrived to start his recruitment processes in July 2004, as such, he turned to WorkSource Oregon and its partner, the Oregon Employment Department, for assistance. 
 
The "Customized" Employer Service Kevin and Lowe's received included:  assistance with regional wage information, listing employment opportunities (including Jobs PLUS), screening Job Seekers, and collecting resumes and applications.  Additionally, as his facility was still being built, WorkSource Oregon provided him office space (free of charge) for a continuous eight - week period where he could "house" business information and conduct initial screening interviews.  This alone saved Lowe's the cost associated in renting a hotel room.  Moreover, he received a direct line to conduct telephone interviews and business related activities, had fax and copy machine availability, and received/sent mail.
 
"It helps us a lot because with them doing the pre-screening it eliminated a lot of phone calls that we would have had to make because they were making them for us - saved us a lot of time and effort."
 
  In addition, WorkSource Oregon contacted Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, a WorkSource Oregon partner, and coordinated space to meets Lowe's multiple "New Employee Orientation" and management meetings, again free of charge.  Finally, The Employment Department assisted Lowe's in capitalizing on the Jobs PLUS program, saving Lowe's approximately $15,400 in wage reimbursements.  All of this assistance helped Lowe's hire 93 of their approximate 150 employees, seven of which were Jobs PLUS participants. 
 
The positions Lowe's hired for included:  Human Resources, Administrative, Operations, Zone, and Department Managers; Sales Specialists for Commercial, Outdoor and Nursery Departments; Customer Service Associates for the Cashiering and Return Desk areas; and Delivery Drivers.
 
Kevin is very pleased.
 
"I would recommend it highly. They were a great help to us, great communication - almost daily communication, calling us, updating us. Great resource."
 
To find out how a WorkSource Oregon Center can help your business recruiting needs - click HERE to find a Center near you.

Darrel Wilson directs the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon - providing employment, and care for persons with disabilities. It's tough work with long hours and on weekends and holidays.
 
Finding qualified applicants for his positions is difficult. In the past, Darrel put ads in the local newspaper. His experience was less than satisfactory.
 
"That's something we have done historically by running an ad then taking endless phone calls, only a few of which will hit pay dirt."
 
Recently Darrel rediscovered a pre-paid service that takes the pain out of recruiting - WorkSource Oregon.
 
"The whole process of advertising, screening, all the selecting, interviewing - is very time consuming. I don't think most business know how much time it takes. If you get the right people at the right time then that is a very significant support for your business."
 
And it's that support that WorkSource Oregon provides.
 
"We have a seen a real interest in our business. They have been out so they can learn our programs so they can do a better job in matching."
 
And how's it working?
 
"We're getting the best matches that we've historically seen."
 
Darrel has been so successful working with the staff at WorkSource Oregon that he's made a major change in the way he recruits.
 
"Historically we've advertised in the local paper. We weren't getting any response at all from our ad in the Bulletin. But we've continued to get a steady stream of people who ware reasonably qualified referred to us through WorkSource Oregon. We cancelled our newspaper ad because it was costing us money and we weren't getting anything out of it."
 
WorkSource Oregon finds out what kinds of skills Darrel is looking for, advertises those openings to the largest group of skilled workers in the state - then pre-screens candidates so that Darrel can interview the best of the best.
 
"If you get qualified people you can jump right to interviewing rather than advertising and jawing on the phone and everything else. WorkSource Oregon people are doing the matching function, then that's a direct savings to us."
 
Anything to add, Darrel?
 
"If you haven't tried or you haven't tried recently I'd suggest try again because it's my belief that WorkSource Oregon is a statewide effort to better support Oregon communities by getting people in the jobs they need."
 
If you would like to hear how one of our Business Representatives can learn about your business, then provide excellent matching for your recruitment needs