Business Briefs: Tennessee to close 34 job centers

Friday, January 1, 1904

Tennessee to close 34 job centers

The state agency responsible for finding jobs for Tennesseans is cutting 125 of its own jobs as part of a budget-cutting move. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday it is closing 34 career centers, including offices in Rockwood, Lenoir City, McMinnville and Vonore, Tenn.

Since 2004, the state's career centers have been operating at a deficit. When federal funding ran out, the state put $5 million in the budget last year to keep the centers open. But the new state budget will have no such funds, and the 34 offices will close in the next month or two.

The state will continue to operate 23 career centers and maintain its online job services, department spokesman Jeff Hentschel said.


NPR features Fillauer salesman

NPR's Morning Edition on Friday profiled Fillauer's director of sales, Jack Richmond, for his resilience and mentorship of other amputees after he lost his own leg in 1987 in a forklift accident. Richmond became an avid runner and cyclist and has run the Boston Marathon.

"I had a young family [when he lost his leg] and in a lot of ways that motivated me to get up and get going," he said. "Two months after my accident, I went back to the hospital and said I wanted to talk with other amputees and tell them it will be OK."