National, cooperative employment program brought to MO

1. Faith Friends Mentoring for Success
The mission of Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) is to facilitate a partnership between every
congregation or community organization and low-income individuals or families as they transition to
dignity and independence under God. A registered 501(c)(3) non profit corporation
Denis Rigdon, CEO
Donations are tax deductible, charitable gifts.
1911 Woodlawn
Tel: 573-651-0551 or Tel / Fax: 651-0336
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Email: phope@swbell.net WEB page: www.phope.net
PROJECT HOPE BRINGS NATIONAL DOL
PROGRAM TO MISSOURI
“Denis!
. . . great news! SHARE Network is coming to Missouri. We have the go-ahead from Rod Nunn. I’ll be
coming for a visit at the end of April. Please let Wayne know- it wouldn’t be happening, if it were not for
his encouragement. Erica Sager-Pelman, Staff Assistant DOL / ETA”
Erica Sager-Pelman meets tomorrow, April 28th, with MO state officials to finalize and sign agreements
with the Dept. of Labor to establish the SHARE Network in Missouri.
What is SHARE and what does it mean for MO?
SHARE is a national, faith-based generated, DOL / ETA program, that meets the challenge of creating
equal access and communicating the availability of that access through a two-part solution: (1) the
development of a web-based referral system, and (2) an outreach and marketing effort that seeks to
educate citizens and expand the Job Service Centers. Piloted in North Dakota in 2002 through funding
under Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, SHARE is now being initiated in MO through the efforts
and encouragement at the federal Dept. of Labor level, noted above, of Project HOPE and our special
projects director, Wayne Zimmer.
This means people looking for a good job with benefits, access to the training necessary to accomplish
this, long-term mentoring support from program like Project HOPE, and other support for people
struggling to find and maintain employment will have more opportunities to learn that the resources are
actually available and where to access them. In addition internet access of workers and the unemployed
to these resources with be provided at a much higher level than currently available and referrals between
the Workforce Investment Board One-Stop Career Centers and service support providers, such as
Project HOPE, will be more swift and efficiently handled over the internet.
SHARE will benefit all service support providers linked to the WIB One-Stop and everyone looking for
good employment and the means to achieve a living wage or beyond for themselves! To access for
Missouri input: http://ded.mo.gov/wfd and click on SHARE Network.
Congratulations to Wayne Zimmer and Project HOPE for bringing this national Dept. of Labor, FaithBased generated and developed program to Missouri to benefit the State! Thanks to the support of
Senator Bond and Representative Emerson who have both supported efforts of Project HOPE at the
national level!
Denis Rigdon, CEO – 573-334-0155
Excelerator

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