FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 119
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ISSUE 3
WEEK OF JANUARY 20, 2022
W ,N 25 , 2020 Colorado program helps dislocated workers
VOLUME 117
EDNESDAY
Paid training to learn a new skill-set BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Lindsay Louis from Firestone quit her regular job working for a Boulder neurosurgeon to return to school full time, she found she stil lneeded part-time work to support her child. “I was not able to find work, it was difficult, had bills to pay and I needed to support my eight-yearold,” said Louis. Louis, with the help from a social worker, received on-the-job training to learn a new skill at the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce. Help came through the federal WorkForce and Opportunity Act that provides employment opportunities for people who are unemployed or underemployed and older than 18. Colorado helps too, paying for training with the chamber. The entire program is funded partially through through two national emergency grant programs, created in response to the economic and employment impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CORespond grant pays the wages for the employee and
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adds some benefits for the temporary job. It not only helps the employee but also helps the business to recover too. In addition, workers are helped with child care assistance, according to officials. “As part of the Federal Government’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Weld County partners with local businesses and organizations to find temporary employment for individuals who meet one of their qualifications,” said Cody M. LeBlanc, Executive Director Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce. “Most of the employers and participants are focused on the trade side of the economy, but they often have participants more suited for clerical and administrative roles.” Louis with her extensive experience will not only expand her skillset but also help with the success of the chamber. “Lindsay came on board with extensive background on administrative duties. With these skills, the Chamber can be more responsive to requests and concerns of our members and community, operate more efficiently, and allow the Executive Director the time necessary to develop programs for our members and revitalize our operations after the pandemic,” said Leblanc. LeBlanc says the chamber will
Lindsay Louis at work not only learning a new skill-set but also helping the success of the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce to better serve its community and members. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
have a new member portal with the help of Louis for members of the chamber to navigate. It will also have a new system with a userfriendly directory for the community with consumer needs to locate Chamber Businesses and Organizations. “For Lindsay, the hope is that she develops new skills to assist her in finding long-term employment. Through the Chamber, she is building her skillset in accounts receivable, member management software’s, software implementation, and community development,”
said Leblanc. With Louis on board the office is now open to better serve members and the community to walk in or call. Louis’s hope for the future is to get a full-time job meanwhile not only is she working and she is also going to school at Aims Community College for nursing. The Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce, 304 Denver Ave., Fort Lupton, CO 80621. Contact ( 303) 857-4474.
Virus surge may be ‘more severe than prior waves’ Health officials urge getting vaccine, booster; hospital data spiking
According to Tri-County Health Omicron and its ability to cause rus) in the days ahead,” a statement data, 3,193 new cases were reported infection among previously vaccifrom the COVID-19 tracking team nated or infected individuals,” said led by the Colorado School of Public on Dec. 31 across the three counties, the Jan. 3 statement from the ColoHealth said. the most on any single day since rado COVID-19 Modeling Group, a The new virus variant is drivthe start of the pandemic up to that team that analyzes data to provide ing record-shattering numbers of point, the agency said in the release. projections on how the pandemic recorded new daily cases, and the All three counties have exceeded will continue to unfold. number of patients currently hospitheir all-time high seven-day inciBY ELLIS ARNOLD The virus is spreading at record talized for COVID-19 in Colorado has dence rates — which were previEARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM spiked back up since late December. rates in Adams, Arapahoe and ously set in November 2020 — with Douglas counties, for example, That number was 1,374 confirmed rates exceeding 1,000 cases per Local public health officials and according to Tri-County Health COVID-19 patients as of Jan. 7, ac100,000 people in each, according to analysts implored the public not to Department. cording to state data. let its guard down as the omicron the release. (“Incidence rate” means “These next few weeks are likely “Even though infection from the variant drives a dramatic coronavithe rate of new cases.) to be among the most challenging Omicron variant appears to result rus surge in Colorado. “Over the past two weeks, Adams Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton we andhave the faced Fort Lupton Food and ClothingCounty Bank provide community over the past year,” in lower risk of hospitalization than rates increased by 403%, “We believe it is important for members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with 4 and Change, John Douglas, executive director the Delta variant, hospital demand Arapahoe CountyChange by 437%, Coloradans to know that there is a of Tri-County Health, in a news could peakson based high probability of coming into conanother organization that helps with the foodexceed drive.prior See more Pageon2. release. high number of cases caused by tact with someone with (coronaviSEE OMICRON, P4
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