Workforce Center close to deal on Commerce space
The Wichita Workforce Center, citing the need to grow, is planning to pull up stakes at 402 E. Second and move a few blocks into the Commerce Bank Center.
Once the deal is signed, the center, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, would be the first tenant under the building's new owners, Minnesota developers Michael Elzufon, David Lundberg and Steve Cheney. The group bought the Commerce building in December.
Workforce Center Manager Abel Perez says with only three floors in their building, the organization could use the extra room the Commerce Bank Center affords. There isn't the space to accommodate the growing amount of work done at the workforce center, he says.
Located at 150 N. Main, the 156,000-square-foot Commerce Bank building will soon lose its namesake -- Commerce Bank -- which has had its headquarters in the building since 1995. Commerce takes up half the property. The bank will move into a new building at The Waterfront in May.
The addition of the workforce center could breathe new life into the Commerce Bank building. Perez says 50 employees and possibly dozens more from other agencies that work on and off with the center plan to move. The center could need as many as three floors there, he says.
"We've run out of room here," Perez says. "This building is too small now. We want to be centralized and I think that would be a good place. Square footage is what we're looking at, and we need a lot more."
Michael Elzufon, co-owner of the building, declined to comment pending the signing of the contract.
The workforce center assists people looking for employment. The group holds job workshops and conducts labor and market research. Carole Ochs, regional manager for the center, says the center also is planning to expand with the creation of an employee resource center that will give employers a place to conduct job fairs and interviews. Perez says that will necessitate the hiring of more employees, though he's not sure how many.
Having a new tenant in the building bodes well for Snack Attack, which sells food items and seats about 15 on the first floor of the building.
Owner Kevin Berube says he's committed to staying in the building, with the new owners' blessing, but admits he's glad to see new activity there considering the upcoming departure of the bank.
"We're looking for as many people in here as we can get," Berube says. "Time will tell whether they'll be able to build the building back up or not. We'll be here regardless."
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