Workforce Development offices to stay open

State lawmakers passed a measure during Tuesday’s special session to ensure all 56 Iowa Workforce Development offices statewide will remain open. The action is bringing cheers from hundreds of workers at the employment service offices, who faced having to start looking for new jobs themselves. Norm Bissell runs the Workforce Development center in Iowa Falls — which he opened 25 years ago. He says there were a lot of employers who showed their appreciation for the centers. Bissell says legislators may have been confused about one issue, that the centers were all opened in the 80s, he says some are 50 years old. Bissell says the Workforce centers find jobs for thousands of Iowans and don’t even charge a fee.The Iowa House and Senate voted to extend a surcharge paid every year by Iowa employers to keep the Workforce offices running. The legislature, though, is expecting the agency to close at least some of the 56 offices.Workforce Development offices in the following towns were “saved” by yesterday’s action: Algona, Ames, Atlantic, Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Centerville, Chariton, Charles City, Cherokee, Clarinda, Clarion, Corning, Creston, Decorah, Denison, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Fairfield, Forest City, Fort Madison, Glenwood, Grinnell, Guthrie Center, Harlan, Humboldt, Independence, Iowa City, Iowa Falls, Jefferson, Keokuk, Knoxville, LeMars, Manchester, Maquoketa, Missouri Valley, Monticello, Mount Pleasant, New Hampton, Newton, Oelwein, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Pella, Perry, Pocahontas, Red Oak, Sac City, Sheldon, Shenandoah, Sioux Center, Spencer, Storm Lake, Washington, Waverly and Webster City.