The manufacturing piece of The Well Works program is launching next week.

Director of the Well Jayson Henry tells KNIA/KRLS News the Well Works program provides a short-term job opportunity for individuals who have traditionally struggled with work-related issues. The major goals are to provide participants an income, teach structured workplace standards in a flexible job training environment, and allow participants to get back on their feet, while teaching them to be a good employee.

Last year, ACTS (A Call to Serve Ministries of Iowa) and Well Works merged together, which expanded the opportunities for program participants. Director of the new program Rich Kacmarynski says participants will be assembling hog catchers, a product of Ring-O-Matic, for 40 hours a week.

“The Well Works program is designed to help people hit the “restart” button on their employment. We are providing work to people in order to earn all the benefits of working and help them grow their skills and experiences so that they can pursue long-term, stable employment,” said Kacmarynski.

Seventy percent of the one thousand clients who walk through the doors of The Well Resource Center have a work-related issue. The Well Works program is in place to help fill that gap, while setting individuals up to work long-term elsewhere. Well Works seeks to make individuals employable, and is the only program of its kind in Marion County.

The Well is working on signing contracts with a few other manufacturing companies to provide 400 hours of work a week, and 25 people with short-term job opportunities through The Well Works program. The Well is seeking volunteers with front-line management, supervising and training experience to mentor participants through their work day.

Rich can be contacted by phone at 641-621-0164 Ext 712 or email at richk@thewelliowa.org.