Dec. 4, 2019— Missouri Western State University and the St. Joseph Missouri Job Center will celebrate the public unveiling of the new Griffon Lab/Mobile Job Center at noon Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Missouri Job Center, 2202 Frederick Ave.
A collaboration between the St. Joseph Missouri Job Center and Missouri Western, the mobile lab/job center was made possible through an $82,000 Rural Development Grant from the US Department of Agriculture. The grant helped fund a retrofit to the mobile science laboratory owned by Missouri Western. These upgrades will allow the vehicle to be used in an academic role as well as a new Mobile Job Center for the rural communities within Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb Counties.
As the Mobile Job Center, the vehicle will provide job training and career services. As the Griffon Lab it will provide on-site science facilities for rural education partners and be used to build interest in STEM careers.
“This collaboration serves as a wonderful example of how academic and community partners can come together to meet the education and employment needs of northwest Missouri,” said Dr. Michael Ducey, chair of Missouri Western’s Department of Chemistry.
Local legislators, community and business leaders will be in attendance at the unveiling.
The bus will go out as the Mobile Job Center for the first time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at 1316 N. Walnut Street, Cameron, Missouri.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.