SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CitizenWire) — A business efficiency consulting program offered free of charge to local employers in San Bernardino County saved more than 700 jobs and created 200 jobs in less than one year. Funded with federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) dollars administered by the Workforce Investment Board, the program assisted companies to avert impending layoffs, and much more.
Cerenzia Foods, Inc., a local distributor of major food brands, enrolled in the County’s Business Consulting Program and was paired with DEIVIN Consulting, a business consultant specializing in process improvement and business efficiency. A family owned company, Cerenzia was facing challenges in maintaining its profitability and employment levels in a tough economy, and was in danger of laying off employees.
Cerenzia Foods, working with DEIVIN Consulting, immediately went to work streamlining operations. First, an inventory analysis was performed to increase cash flow and residual value on inventory items. This was followed by a warehouse analysis and operations audit, which helped the company streamline processes and customer service. CEO Joe Annunziato estimated that the County’s Business Consulting Program helped them realize an annual savings of more than $75,000 which will allow the company to avoid laying off staff.
“In this tough economic time, saving money can be the difference between keeping three to four key full-time employees and letting them go,” said Annunziato.
“Our County’s Workforce Investment Board is committed to supporting employers in order to preserve and create job opportunities for our County’s residents,” said Chair Josie Gonzales, County of San Bernardino Fifth District Supervisor. “We are very proud of how the business consulting program has quickly and successfully invested funds from the Workforce Investment Act to create and maintain jobs.”
“Our Business Consulting Program has saved 700 residents from losing their jobs and created 200 more jobs with local companies,” said Sandy Harmsen, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board. “This program is just one of the many valuable services and resources we make available to employers in the region.”
The Business Resource Unit of the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board also administers On-the-Job and other subsidized training programs that account for more than 1,000 employees currently working for regional companies. The County’s small business workshop program has provided approximately 1,500 companies with free experts in sales and marketing, cost-cutting, process efficiency and finance to help them strengthen their operations.
For more information, employers and job seekers can inquire through the County of San Bernardino’s Employment Resource Centers at (800) 451-JOBS.
About the Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County:
The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. The Board strives to strengthen the skills of the county’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors is committed to providing county resources which generate jobs and investment.
The Workforce Investment Board, through the County of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency and Workforce Development Department, operates the County’s Employment Resource Centers (ERCs) and Business Resource Centers (BRCs). The ERCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life, and the BRCs support and provide services to the county’s businesses including employee recruitment.
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