Bowling and job seeking under one roof

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Job seekers striking out on the job front can find several opportunities in Calhoun County, they just have to head to the bowling alley.

From Kellogg, to the FireKeepers Casino, to area staffing agencies, employers are lining up at one bowling alley, where the unemployed of Calhoun County can join a unique league to find a job.

It isn't your usual bowling league at Nottke's Family Fun Center in Battle Creek. Every Wednesday for eleven weeks, Dan Labrecque has opened up his bowling alley to the area's unemployed.

"Last week was our first week, and had five people come up to me and shake my hand almost in tears," said Labrecque.

Alan Parlier has been out of work for nearly a year, and has applied for nearly a hundred jobs.

"It's rough, real rough to try and find a job in Battle Creek right now," said Parlier.

And it's not just Battle Creek. Lashy Nelson has been on the job hunt every single day for the month since she moved to the area from Chicago. She says her job hunting has hit a dead end.

The good news is that the Wednesday bowling league is free to every job seeker in Calhoun County. The better news is that mere feet away from the 60 bowling lanes, are tables filled with recruiters scouting for job applicants.

The bowling league and job fair combination is the brain-child of Dan Labrecque.

"It's uplifting for the community," said Labrecque.

In many cases the idea has proven to be a big hit with area residents, some of whom are driving nearly 30 minutes to attend.

"You know, get a job, bowl, it's pretty cool," said Mary Piercell.

The program was scheduled to run for eleven weeks, but Newschannel 3 has been told that if the demand is still there, the program will continue.