Better Business Workshops

Join us the 3rd Thursday of each month from 1PM to 2PM (CT) for Better Business Workshops with Heartland Workforce Solutions at NO COST! From training grants to employer resources, these workshops provide valuable information for all business owners. Save the date and join us each month!

Upcoming Workshops:

September 21, 2023:

Steph DenBesten, Reentry Program Coordinator with the Nebraska Department of Labor will give an overview of the Federal Bonding Program to provide you with tools and strategies to effectively increase Fidelity Bonding, providing support breaking down employment barriers for justice-involved individuals, and assisting employers in meeting their hiring requirements while protecting their assets. Also, a brief review of Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) a Federal tax credit available to employers

October 19, 2023:

The Heartland Workforce solutions team will tell you everything you need to know about the new Incumbent Worker program and how you can take advantage of this to upscale your current employees. Everything you need to know from qualifications to application deadlines.

For more information click and to view previously recorded workshops, click here.

Work With Us Wednesdays

Join us for an orientation to the workforce system. Learn about resources for you to utilize to upskill and grow your company, whether it is filling open positions or increasing education levels of your employees.

When: Every 2nd Wednesday of the month at Noon
Where: Hybrid – Come in person to Heartland Workforce Solutions (and ask for a tour after) or join us virtually by clicking HERE to get the Zoom link.

Work With Us Wednesdays Presentation Deck January 2023

Upcoming Job Fair:

2023 Spooktacular Job Fair

Make sure you get registered for this year’s Spooktacular Job Fair! This is a fun friendly event where job seekers can eliminate the childcare barrier and bring their kiddos along to collect candy and have a fun filled evening. Spots are limited so make sure to get registered today! We are so excited!👻

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HWS Business Newsletter

HWS launched a monthly business newsletter highlighting events, programs, services, and connecting points specific to businesses. Check out the latest and issue here and subscribe to upcoming editions of the newsletter.

Current Newsletter

August 2023 Newsletter

Past Newsletters

July 2023 Newsletter

June 2023 Newsletter

May 2023 Newsletter

April 2023 Newsletter

March 2023 Newsletter

February 2023 Newsletter

January 2023 Newsletter

Reach your employment goals.

When you work with Heartland Workforce Solutions, our consultants evaluate your needs and gather the right information to help us discover how we can best serve your company or organization. We can assist you with many of your employment initiatives, including future workforce and employee pipeline development. 

We create long-term partnerships between our organization and area employers. We are the convener and facilitator, offering job training and career support that meets the needs of both employees and employers in industry sectors that are central to our local economy.

To get started, complete the Business Registration and Referral form below. For additional information, call 402-444-4700.

Business Registration and Referral Form

Get connected to the right services for your business!

How partnerships work.

We assist local employers with finding and retaining the skilled workers they require to successfully compete in today’s global economy. We also focus on systemic change to expand career opportunities for low-wage workers through:

• Employer-led changes in human resources practices.
• Significant improvements to education/training practices.
• Federal, state or local policy changes and/or innovations based on evidence-based research.

The above goals are met by bringing employers together in workforce partnerships to understand and address the requisite skills of an entire industry and implement these initiatives with broader impact.

Resources for Businesses

Recruitment and Hiring Tools

EmployOMA

EmployOMA assists local job-seekers as a non-profit, collaborative group of workforce agencies in the Omaha area. EmployOMA helps businesses connect with specialists from multiple workforce agencies to promote their latest information about available jobs, upcoming workforce events, and job fairs.

Find out more info at https://www.linkedin.com/company/employoma/.

NEworks

• NEworks.nebraska.gov – Post Jobs and Find Candidates

Targeted Recruitment Efforts

• Hiring Events
  • Regular career fairs and hiring events.
  • Onsite Employer Spotlights – This is a hiring event for just your company inside our American Job Center.
• Veteran and Military targeted recruitment programs
  • Monthly Boots to Fill Hiring Events-This event is focused on Veterans, military spouses and their dependents.
  • For more information, please email NDOL.OmahaWFD@nebraska.gov.

Tax Credits and Other Incentive Programs

Federal Fidelity Bond Program

The Federal Fidelity Bonding Program is a unique hiring tool that provides employers insurance coverage for former offenders during the first six months of employment or job promotion. The Federal Fidelity Bond provides $5,000 of insurance to cover events such as theft, larceny or embezzlement by the employee. Employers receive the Federal Fidelity Bond free-of-charge.

Presentation about the program: Fidelity Bond Grant State-Wide Training_FINAL

For more information visit https://dol.nebraska.gov/ReemploymentServices/EmployerResources/FederalFidelityBondProgram

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have faced significant barriers to employment. WOTC joins other workforce programs that incentivize workplace diversity and facilitate access to good jobs for American workers. Employers claim about $1 billion in tax credits each year under the WOTC program. There is no limit on the number of individuals an employer can hire to qualify to claim the tax credit, and there are a few simple steps to follow to apply for WOTC. For more information, please email NDOL.OmahaWFD@nebraska.gov or WOTChelp@nebraska.gov.

Layoff Aversion and Response

Short-Time Compensation Program

The Short-Time Compensation (STC) program helps prevent layoffs by allowing employers to uniformly reduce affected employees’ hours by 10 to 60 percent while permitting the employees to receive a prorated unemployment benefit. STC helps retain workforce during a temporary slowdown in work. Employees are allowed to receive a partial unemployment benefit to help them offset the loss of income.

Rapid Response

The Rapid Response program helps workers to reestablish employment promptly following a layoff. Our Reemployment Services team works directly with employers to quickly connect workers to resources such as resume and interview preparation, Unemployment Insurance, and education and training opportunities. The program is flexible to meet the needs of each employer and their team.

Trade Adjustment Assistance

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is available to assist workers experiencing job loss due to US foreign trade. Loss of employment could be a result of increased imports, a shift in operations to foreign countries or a shift in the supply chain.

Training Assistance and Programs

Registered Apprenticeships for Employers

By working with an employer that values life-long learning, apprentices become invested in improving their skills and in achieving a certificate of completion, a nationally-recognized credential. While combining hands-on skill development with classroom learning, apprentices learn and understand why they do what they do. Apprentices become problem solvers, good team members, and demonstrate better interpersonal skills. On average, apprentices demonstrate better attendance, possess the latest technological skills, and fill the critical need for skilled workers to replace retirees and achieve and maintain a highly productive workforce.

Worker Training Grants
In accordance with Nebraska Revised Statutes § 48-622.02 and 48-622.03, the Nebraska Worker Training and Support Cash Fund may be used to provide training opportunities that:

• expand the Nebraska workforce by increasing the pool of highly skilled workers in Nebraska.
• support public and private job training programs designed to train, retrain, or upgrade work skills of existing Nebraska workers of for-profit and not-for-profit businesses.
• recruit workers to Nebraska; and
• train new employees of expanding Nebraska businesses.

Employers, labor organizations, or other entities providing an apprenticeship training program may apply for a worker training grant.

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