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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, CONTACT:  Amy Susan (573) 751-1518
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 25, 2011

Joplin Career Center reopens today with extended hours to assist disaster victims

JOPLIN — Department of Economic Development Director David Kerr announced that theMissouri Career Center at 730 South Wall Avenue has reopened today to help disaster victims access unemployment insurance and reemployment assistance. After temporarily closing because of utility outages, the center opens today with extended business hours for the remainder of this week: the center will be open today, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Southwest workforce board director Jasen Jones is pledging to make available all possible assistance, despite the losses faced by Career Center staff. “Even though many of the people who work at the center have lost their homes and personal items,” Jones said, “they still feel a strong bond with their fellow Joplin citizens and are going out of their way to come assist those who need help.”

In addition to dislocated worker and other reemployment services, the Department of Labor will be sending staff to the career center to assist those filing for unemployment insurance/Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Department claim staff will be working extended hours to assist those filing claims.

“The people of Joplin are in dire need of financial assistance and the unemployment program is able to put money in their hands in a matter of days,” stated Missouri Labor Department Director Larry Rebman. “If individuals are not able to travel, they can still apply for benefits by calling their Regional Claims Centers.”

Contact the Joplin Career Center for questions at 417-629-3000 or toll free 1-888-728-JOBS (5627). To file an unemployment claim, visit labor.mo.gov or call the Regional Claims Center hotline at 800-320-2519. For DUA claims, additional information is necessary. Visit our website to learn about the documentation needed to file for this federal program. 

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