The Cortez Day Labor Center is moving to a more convenient location.
Beginning Monday, June 1, the center will operate out of an office within its parent organization, the Bridge Emergency Shelter, 601 N. Mildred Road.
The Day Labor center entrance is on the south side of the building, facing Centennial Park. Laborers and employers are asked to park on Park Street and walk over to the office.
Hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday, and there’s a new phone number, (970) 565-9808.
The move is more centrally located from the previous E. Empire Street location, said shelter manager Laurie Knutson.
“It’s more visible, and we can integrate staff from both programs,” Knutson said.
The day labor center will be open year-round. Having it operate out of the shelter location utilizes the space better, and saves in rent.
“It makes sense because when the shelter is closed for five months, the building would otherwise be empty,” Knutson said. “The county commissioners have been very generous for allowing us to use this building.”
There is no charge for employees or employers to utilize the labor center’s services. Pay is negotiated between the worker and the employer, and is typically $10 per hour.
Computers are available for job searches and resume writing during open hours.
Day labor jobs range from a day to several days, and sometimes more. The type of work is usually cleaning jobs, restaurant work, landscaping, agriculture and carpentry.
“For employers, it can get them through a rough spot if somebody quits or has an emergency,” Knutson said. “For workers, it supplements income and can lead to a full-time job.”
There are usually more workers than jobs, she said, but the center is trying to change that by encouraging more employers to give the local labor pool a try.
“It’s a very convenient way for companies to try out workers to see if they’re a good fit for a permanent position,” Knutson said
During peak periods in the summer, temporary jobs generated by the center contribute $17,000 per month in wages to the local economy, according to center reports.
For fiscal year 2013-14, 1,100 workers checked in for jobs, and 530 received work. Reliable workers were called up frequently for jobs. Fiscal year 2014-15 is trending upward, with 560 so far receiving work, 18 of whom are military veterans.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com