6,000 square foot expansion ahead for Voke Re-hab

The building near Seneca that houses state Vocational Rehabilitation services for Oconee and Pickens counties will stretch out next year by 6,000 square feet. At an employer luncheon today, area supervisor Shelia Ford announced that a groundbreaking for the expansion project will be held in the spring. Dan Alexander, business development specialist, says the expansion is recognition of the increasing work for which Voke Re-hab contracts with local and area employers. The contract work is one service of the state agency, about which Ford and Alexander stress the need to get word out to the general public. Even today’s luncheon speaker, Kyle Hicks, conceded that even he, as late as four years ago, knew very little about the value of a public agency which not only supplies workers, but thoroughly screens those workers to ensure that the employers are getting quality employees. Hicks and his place of business are a prime example. The Residences at Park Place Assisted Living employs several individuals who are products of vocational rehabilitation. Hicks especially likes how voke re-hab screens the individuals for positions in his health care business. At the lectern, Hicks was joined by his business office manager, Jennifer Leibler, who told of her positive experience with vocational rehabilitation and told employers they can be assured that the workers sent to them have good skills acquired through the training. A video played at the luncheon showed examples of the training that the clients receive.