Who was recruiting displaced auto workers to WY a few years back? (Gillette: rent)

[homebirthmom]

If you search-engine it, you find an article that WY had so much business/industry happening, and MI had so many lay-offs going on, that recruiters from WY went out there, and many families made the leap and have loved it. Does anyone know what this was all about? The article was vague about what companies they were, what kind of work it was, etc.

My husband is now a displaced auto worker after 15 years with Chrysler. We are researching ID, MT, and WY as our next home. We've got a buy-out, 2yrs. paid schooling, 2 yrs. unemployment while he trains. He's thinking about nursing school, to become a surgical nurse. But we have 7 children, we homeschool, and he will be looking for work either part-time, or while he waits for a nursing program to start admissions for the following semester.

Can anyone tell me anything about this?

Thanks so much.

Sara

[georgiainwyo]

I know that there were several companies here in Gillette as well as some other energy related towns who went to Michigan to recruit. We had A LOT of guys from Michigan move here to work. At that time the area was crying for workers. Things have really slowed down now, though, although I feel things are still a lot better here than they are in most places. I think he would be able to find a part time job and there is a good junior college here that has a nursing program. Rent is still pretty high here. I don't know much about home schooling as I work for the school system, but I know there are people here who do home school and it's not that regulated. If you have any questions let us know. Also, I noticed you posting on the Montana board, too. We moved to WY from MT and are so glad we did. Money is so much better here, taxes lower, etc. I don't know anything about Idaho, though, as you asked on your Montana post.

[WyoNewk]

Georgia got it right. I'm pretty sure Gillette was the first town in Wyoming to make the trips back to Michigan and recruit at job fairs there. I don't recall if it was the Chamber of Commerce of the Economic Development Council that did it, but it was a local government agency that started it, and I think they were accompanied by representatives from a couple area coal mines.

That was two and three years ago, maybe four. At that time employers couldn't find enough help, and workers moving to Gillette without jobs could find work the first day they looked. Of course, finding housing took months, and many new arrivals lived with their families in hotel rooms for months on end -- or waited for months to find housing so their families could join them. My, how things have changed!

Here's a link to the Northern Wyoming Community College District.

[mtlogger]

I seem to remember that they were recruiting mid-westerners to come out here. Whatta culture shock that must have been!

Us locals have a hard enuf time finding work for ourselves let alone importing competition. I'm going down to NM next week - checking it out for myself.

[rya700]

Nursing jobs are not as plentiful as they used to be.....especially for 'new grad' RN's.

[georgiainwyo]

There are still lots of nursing jobs listed available in Gillette.

[rya700]

Originally Posted by GEORGIAINMT

There are still lots of nursing jobs listed available in Gillette.

Really where? Campbell County Memorial Hospital has 5 RN jobs on their website.....2 are only PRN positions and only 1 position would i recommend to a new graduate RN. I doubt the other 2 would accept a new grad.

[wyolady]

Don't know if you'd consider correctional work, but Wyoming Dept of Corrections is about the only branch of state gov't hiring. Many positions are in Torrington at new prison.

Department of Corrections