The Calvert County Department of Social Services (DSS) hosted the Thursday, Sept. 8 Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. The event was held at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. The original plan was to hold the two-hour affair at the restaurant’s outdoor café. However, the day’s persistent rains moved the crowd indoors.
Three local businesses—Integrated Electrical Technologies Corporation of Dowell, Dunkirk Supply Incorporated and Dunkin Donuts in Lusby—received 2010 Community Partnership Awards from the Maryland Department of Human Resources and DSS.
According to DSS Community Development Manager Timothy E, Pillard, the award is given to businesses participating in the agency’s internship programs.
“These businesses always let us know about job openings,” said Pillard. “They understand it’s not a perfect process. They have made an outstanding effort. I probably would have liked to have given out 40 awards to our many valued partners.”
The employers participating in the DSS internship program, according to Pillard, excel in working with the interns to develop “those intangible skills needed for job-readiness. They’ve had multiple people come through the program. Our goal is to have the families who are our customers support themselves. We want to get help them get a job to get them out of the system.”
Pillard said the DSS internship program has expanded in a few short years, with about 60 internships provided by approximately 35 different businesses. Nonprofit organizations have also provided individuals seeking to hone job skills with opportunities through the program.
State funding helps support this and other employment programs throughout Maryland.
The entry fees collected by the Chamber at the September Business After Hours will benefit the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce’s Scholarship Fund.
For more information on the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce visit www.calvertchamber.org.
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