Even with the current status of J1 and H2B visa programs local employers can’t always find enough workers to fill jobs at peak tourist times in the county.
What then, will happen if Congress cuts quotas for both of these visa programs and foreign workers can’t be recruited to the county as they have been in the past?
Who will work in the restaurants, hotels, lodges, and shops?
To avert a potential shortage of employees at the peak summer season, the Cook County Chamber has begun a six-month pilot project to see if workers from other places in the United States can be recruited to work in the county.
A small group of chamber members called the Plan B Steering Committee will work with Shawn Kerfoot of Sandstone, Minnesota on recruitment in areas where unemployment and under-employment are problems.
Initially, Kerfoot will recruit in two areas. One will be among Puerto Rican residents relocated to Florida because of Hurricane Maria. The second will be from Pine County where high school graduates who don’t want to move to the metro area might find working more pleasurable in a small town atmosphere.
Shawn, the daughter of former Gunflint Lodge owner Bruce Kerfoot, runs Kerfoot’s Foreign Student Program and is very familiar with Cook County, its business climate and employers struggles to find enough labor.
The Chamber and Cook County EDA have donated $4,000 and collected additional funds to pay Kerfoot.
Currently, the Chamber is collecting a list of members’ anticipated labor needs between now and June 30, 2018. Kerfoot will attempt to match those needs with employees’ skills.
Chamber members who wish to participate in the program can receive an email form “2018 Cook County Job Offer” from the Chamber.
“Because skill requirements, wages, experience, etc., will vary by job type, we ask that you send one job offer form for each job type you seek to fill,” said Chamber Director Jim Boyd. “So one for housekeepers, one for culinary workers, one for maintenance personnel, etc.”
At this time employers don’t have to choose between the experimental Chamber recruitment program and efforts to secure J1 and H2B visa workers, said Boyd.
“If you normally use international workers, you should go ahead with your plans for those programs. If our pilot program proves successful, you still should have time to adjust your J1 and H2B worker plans.”
Chamber members (or those wishing to join the Chamber) that have questions about the pilot program are encouraged to contact Jim Boyd at ccchamber@boreal.org or call 387-2079.
Members of the Steering Committee can also answer questions, and they include:
. Mary Somnis,
EDA
. Pat Campanaro,
Small Business
Development Center
. Beth Kennedy,
Birchbark and Beth’s Fudge
. Deb Niemisto
and Nan Bradley,
Lockport Store
. Linda Jurek,
Visit Cook County
. Dennis Rysdahl,
Bluefin Bay
. Clair Nalezny,
Lutsen Resort
. Charles Skinner,
Lutsen Mountains
. Dr. Bill Crandall,
ISD 166
. Karen Blackburn,
Cook County Higher
Education
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