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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

CareerSource career centers set to resume normal service hours

CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion facilities will resume normal service hours beginning Monday, April 12.

Career centers in all three counties, as well as CareerSource CLM’s affiliate Talent Center at the College of Central Florida, will be open to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The additional hours of in-person services will not affect virtual services, which continue to be available during regular business hours via careersourceclm.com, Live Chat, email and phone.

Dale French, CareerSource CLM’s executive vice president, said “this revision comes as a result of growing demand for our services.”

In part, the increased demand is due to the anticipated expiration of work registration and job search waivers for those filing Reemployment Assistance (unemployment compensation) claims.

The requirements, along with a mandatory waiting week, have been waived for those filing applications through April 24. Reemployment Assistance, overseen by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, provides temporary wage replacement benefits to qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own.

Claimants for all Reemployment Assistance programs, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment compensation, as well as Florida’s state compensation, will be required to return to DEO’s CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits or “claim their weeks.”

“We encourage people to seek our assistance sooner rather than later – certainly before the waivers expire – so they are ready to hit the ground running,” French said. “This isn’t the first time the waivers have been extended, and it may not be the last, but every time they’re set to expire, we typically see a spike in traffic to our centers.”

Beyond meeting requirements to claim RA benefits, French said that registering for work with CareerSource CLM through Employ Florida, and conducting quality job searches, can lead to reemployment.

“For those out of work, finding good, gainful employment is certainly the goal, and we’ve definitely seen an uptick in local job postings,” French said. “The jobs are out there waiting for people to apply.”

CareerSource CLM’s fee-free services include job referrals, as well as helping candidates create or update targeted resumes and prepare for interviews.

While resuming normal service hours, French emphasized that CareerSource CLM will continue its universal standard for safety at each center, which includes but is not limited to adherence to CDC guidelines for social distancing and use of PPE, including face coverings for staff and customers; scanning all incoming customers for fever and permitting access to those within the normal temperature range; and continuing regular deep cleaning of all facilities.

CareerSource CLM career centers are located at:

  • 2703 NE 14th St., in Ocala;
  • 683 S. Adolph Point, in Lecanto; and
  • 2175 NW 11th Dr., in Chiefland.

CareerSource CLM’s affiliate Talent Center at the College of Central Florida is located at 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 42, Suite 101.