A safety rail stands between the Missouri Job Center opening in Fulton this week or not.
"We're waiting for a handrail, but we should have a soft opening (this) week," manager Michael Fooks said.
People already are excited about the opportunities for training and employment the new asset will offer.
"Word's already out on the street," said Tamara Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce. "They're excited; it's giving hope to our community."
The job center will offer many opportunities to unemployed and under-employed people, as welll as those wishing for more job training. Nancy Wiley, MoWINS program manager at the State Technical College of Missouri, also wants her institution to become involved.
"In my humble opinion, to have the new job center here is awesome," she said.
On Friday, Alex Blackwell and her team from Central Workforce Development Board and the Missouri Job Center met with Callaway County community leaders at the chamber offices. Wiley talked about a mobile training unit available for taking classes to communities rather than students having to travel to the State Tech campus in Linn, about 48 miles southeast of Fulton.
For now, courses can include computer skills, CPR and first aid and more.
"We're not geographically challenged," Wiley said. "With our mobile unit, we can go anywhere."
Wiley mentioned a grant for more than $2.76 million from the Department of Labor to help students get training.
"There's an intense need for adult digital learning skills," she said. "This is 100 percent free training. We literally give them their pencil. There's $2.7653 million we have to spend, and we will spend every nickel."
Tours of the new office at 510 Market St. were given by Shane Moriarity, project manager for Central Region Workforce Investment Board, and Fooks, currently based at the Missouri Job Center's Jefferson City office.
Turning right off the lobby is a room full of computer stations. Special workers will help youths from teens to age 24 get good career starts.
"This is where people can come in and do job searches and write resumes," Moriarity said. "We'll have adult staff and youth staff to help.
A staff area is in the center of the building, and left of the lobby is a private conference area and a training room.
"We can do classes and workshops here," Moriarity said.
Blackwell talked about training on Excel and Microsoft software, and support services including help with uniforms and clothing. The wide variety of services will be offered to job seekers at no charge.
"Anything to get people started in a new job in your community," she said.
"I'm excited about all of it," he said.