Business Intelligence
July 19, 2011
Resources to Help Employers Hire
We know you’re thinking about it…
If you’re like many lucky business owners, the recession is now in your rear view mirror and your business is starting to pick up speed. Your employees are scrambling to keep up with orders and requests. Might it be time to hire on some additional staff?
After an economic downturn, it’s difficult to decide when to pull the trigger on hiring. Distinguishing between a temporary glut in orders and a sustained uptick in business can be a challenge. Happily, there are a number of services designed to help Greater Richmond businesses grow. These programs can take the edge off hiring and training new workers, making it more cost effective for you to take on new staff sooner. Below is just a sampling of those resources from the state and regional levels.
Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA)
The VDBA is the state department responsible for providing one-stop services for technical assistance related to business formation, access to capital, and workforce development. The department offers several services of interest to those considering taking on more employees.
- Virginia Jobs Investment Program: This program helps to offset recruiting and training costs incurred when creating new jobs or implementing technological upgrades. There are opportunities for companies expecting significant growth, but also for small businesses with more modest expansion plans.
- Virginia Small Business Financing Authority: This division helps small businesses acquire the financing they need to invest in equipment and facilities. If you need money for a larger space, this is the program to check out.
- Business Information Services: This program can help existing business owners with free Growing Sales seminars and one-on-one technical assistance.
Virginia Employment Commission’s Virginia Workforce Connection
The Virginia Employment Commission offers a variety of services to employers. The Virginia Workforce Connection service allows you to not only post jobs at no cost, but also browse candidates. Additional services include access to information about the labor market and wages, government regulations, and educational and training programs. There is even a tool to help you find out if you qualify for local, state or federal tax incentives.
Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
CCWA offers more than 1,000 professional development courses in three Greater Richmond locations as well as online. A wide variety of courses are available with topics including software training, business skills, customer service, medical training, communication, management, and more. CCWA can help make your current employees more productive or give new hires the boost they need to be successful. Looking for employees with specific skills? CCWA can help you recruit from an existing program or will work with you to develop a customized training program that meets your needs.
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