As we continue to navigate COVID-19 together, WorkForce Central is committed to providing the best service possible to our partners and community during this uncertain time. Our top priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our staff, business partners, job seekers, and community.
In response to the recent concerns surrounding COVID-19, we are providing links to resources, a listing of partners and affiliate sites that are temporarily closed, and a listing of events and activities that are cancelled or postponed. Our team will continue to make updates to these lists as more information becomes available.
Resources
Updates
- Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department information specifically for Pierce County, including a page dedicated to Human Coronavirus and COVID-19 information for businesses.
- Information on COVID-19 from Governor Inslee’s office
- Information on COVID-19 from the Washington State Department of Health
- Updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Financial Support
- Financial Counseling from Sound Outreach available digitally Monday through Friday
- Scenarios & Benefits Available for employees affected by COVID-19. Provided by the Employment Security Department.
Food & Supplies
- Food and supplies delivery for those who are sick, quarantined, immunocompromised, or elderly. Provided by Tacoma Mutual Aid Collective.
- Food pantry locations in Pierce County. Provided by Emergency Food Network.
- Free breakfast and lunch for students affected by school closures.
- Bethel School District
- Clover Park School District
- Dieringer School District
- Eatonville School District
- Fife Public Schools
- Franklin Pierce Schools
- Peninsula School District
- Puyallup School District
- Steilacoom Historical School District
- Sumner-Bonney Lake School District
- Tacoma Public Schools
- University Place School District
- White River School District
Events & Activities
- JobFest – rescheduled to June 1, 2020
- Hire253 – rescheduled to June 25, 2020
Partners & Affiliate sites
- All schools K-12 in Pierce, Snohomish, and King Counties are closed March 17 – April 24.
- Pierce County Library System locations are now completely closed to the public, including public programming and public meeting rooms, until further notice.
- Tacoma Public Library will close all locations effective Saturday, March 14.
- Metro Parks Tacoma will be canceling all programs (including indoor, outdoor, and volunteer parties) and facility rentals, and closing the following facilities through March 31:
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
- All four community centers (Eastside, STAR, People’s, Norpoint)
- Tacoma Nature Center
- W.W. Seymour Conservatory
- Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
- The following Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) programs will be operating remotely through at least March 30:
- Energy Assistance
- Weatherization
- Housing
- Adult Education and Employment
- Youth Education
- Child Care Food Program
- Care Management
- The Center for Substance Use Recovery
- Supported Employment
- Metropolitan Development Council’s 24-hour programs and overnight programs will continue to operate with some changes to limit visitor hours and require health checks for people interacting with the programs. Those programs include:
- Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Center
- Withdrawal Management
- Randall Townsend Apartments
- Avenue Apartments
- Bethlehem Baptist Church Temporary Shelter
- Tacoma Housing Authority will be suspending most community programming in their facilities through at least April 1, with the exception of partners who provide essential services
- The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) will be closed to in-person visits and onsite service as of Tuesday, March 17.
- As of Tuesday, March 17, only overnight guest will be able to enter the Catholic Community Services Nativity House. Daytime guests will be served meals outside on the deck, and will be encouraged to disperse after receiving meals.
