A new job and a new car for Andrea

Larry Hightower of Workforce Development hands the keys to a 1999 Ford Taurus to Andrea Lemmons, Nevada, while Kathy Baker shakes her hand. Lemmons won the car in a drawing held for those who successfully completed an employment program. Steve Moyer/Daily Mail.

Andrea Lemmons came to Nevada needing a job and transportation. Now thanks to the Missouri Career Center and Workforce Development she has both. Lemmons is currently working at Moore-Few Care Center and says she enjoys her job.

"I like what I do there," Lemmons said. "I like the work and the residents. It's very rewarding."

Lemmons participates in a Workforce Development program that helps people get and maintain jobs through education and training. Tuesday Lemmons won a refurbished 1999 Ford Taurus from Workforce Development. The car was a prize in an incentive program funded through a grant from the State of Missouri. Larry Hightower, Workforce Board of Directors, was on hand Tuesday to hand Lemmons the keys to the car and explain the program.

"A little over a year ago the state of Missouri came out with seven new grants," Hightower said. "We were the only region to apply for all seven and we received four grants. One of the grants allowed us to purchase the car and refurbish it."

Program participants were given one entry for each week in the past 12 months in which they successfully met program participation/work requirements. The entries from all the counties in the region were put into a drum, provided by Woods Supermarkets, and the winner drawn.

The Automotive Technology Department of State Fair Community College provided needed mechanical work to repair the car using parts donated by O'Reilly Automotive. Warehouse Tire of Sedalia donated a set of new tires. Kenny Cripes of Sedalia provided a touch up on paint. Sedalia attorney Max Mitchell provided needed legal work to the Workforce Development Board.

The Workforce Development Board plans and administers employment and training services in a 13-county area including Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon counties. Employment and training services are available to businesses and job seekers at area Missouri Career Centers in Clinton, Lexington, Marshall, Nevada, Sedalia, Warrensburg and Warsaw.