SOUTHFIELD — The Oakland County Michigan Works! location in Southfield closed June 30 in preparation for a new southern Oakland County workforce development center.


The Southfield Michigan Works! office, located at 21415 Civic Center Dr., Ste 116, seen here earlier in June, was set to close June 30 in preparation for a new, centralized location.
Photo by Erin Sanchez

In early May, the Oakland County Workforce Development Board, with support from the Oakland County Executive Office, approved transitioning Oakland County Michigan Works! from six locations to five. The decision included centralizing its two southern Oakland County centers, which are located in Southfield and Oak Park.

Director of Oakland County Michigan Works! Jennifer Llewellyn said census data, customer flow and distance between centers were used to determine the change.

“The Oak Park and Southfield offices were about 3.5 miles from each other,” she said. “Rather than having two locations within a couple of miles of each other, we will have one location in the vicinity.”

Llewellyn said the decision really came down to funding.

“We’ve had some federal reductions over the years, and we’ve had to make some tough decisions,” she said. “We’re not alone in that. Other parts of the state have had to close some offices, too.”

The Southfield office was located at 21415 Civic Center Drive, Ste 116. Program participants at Southfield’s location were to be transitioned to another Oakland County Michigan Works! location before July 1.

The Oak Park center, located at 22180 Parklawn St., is set to close Sept. 30. The hope is to have the new, centralized workforce development center open by Sept. 30.

It is yet to be determined where the centralized development center will be located. However, it is planned to be located in Southfield, Oak Park or Huntington Woods.

New customers seeking employment, training, career counseling or workforce development services can find them at the following locations.

• Novi — 31186 Beck Road.

• Oak Park — 22180 Parklawn St.

• Pontiac — 1850 N. Perry St.

• Troy — 550 Stephenson Highway, Ste. 400.

• Waterford — 7500 Highland Road.

Additional information can be found by visiting oaklandcountymiworks.com, by calling (800) 285-9675 or emailing OaklandCountyMiWorks@OakGov.com.