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GTCC To Begin New Job Training Under Governor's JobsNOW Plan

JAMESTOWN - Four new job training programs will be implemented and two existing classes will be expanded at Guilford Technical Community College to provide area dislocated or unemployed workers short term training for new jobs.

Most of the classes, which are part of Gov. Beverly Perdue's JobsNOW 12-in- 6 program, will begin this fall.

The training is geared to help workers quickly learn new skills and re-enter the job market in positions where there are employment needs to be filled, said Brian Haderlie, dean of GTCC's Business and Industry Services.

GTCC will train workers for the Greensboro-High Point Metropolitan Statistical area where unemployment has risen to 12.1 percent, Haderlie said.

Dates and times for beginning the JobsNOW programs will be announced soon. A variety of subjects will be taught within these modules. "Students will be able to take several classes with each module, which will take up to six months to complete," said Lisa Cozart, interim coordinator for the Center for Business and Industry.

"We believe these areas - welding, medical administration, industrial maintenance, Computer Numerical Control Machining and weatherization - will show positive job growth results in the future," said Lillian Plummer, executive director of Greensboro*High Point*Guilford County Workforce Development Board.

These programs will be conducted on the Greensboro campus, 3505 E. Wendover Avenue:

• Industrial maintenance - Begins in mid-September.
• Medical administrative assistant - Begins in early September.
• Computer Control Numerical Machining - Begins in mid-September.
• Green weatherization - Begins first week in October.

The short-term welding course also will be expanded into a more comprehensive 400-hour program, Haderlie said. Welding training will begin Aug. 21 on the Jamestown campus, 601 High Point Road.comprehensive 400-hour program, Haderlie said. Welding training will begin Aug. 21 on the Jamestown campus, 601 High Point Road.

Additional training will be provided in the Nurse Assistant I program, which will be offered on the Jamestown and High Point campuses. Students will be able to choose a class that includes geriatric and medication aide training, providing them broader training.

Classes will be repeated through Oct. 31, 2010, in order to train as many workers as possible, Cozart said.

Persons successfully completing a JobsNow program will be awarded a Career Readiness Certificate, a WorkForce Readiness Certificate and a training specific Certificate which will detail the skills acquired.

Financing for the training courses will come from the $300,000 allocated to the college under the governor's plan for the state's community colleges to train workers within six months or less. The funds will be provided through the N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development and the local Workforce Development Board.

Plummer said that the Workforce Development Board is "very pleased" to work with GTCC in sponsoring individuals who are interested in gaining the unique training in the 12-in-6 program.

Haderlie said, "GTCC has extensive experience in short term occupational training programs through its 'Quick Jobs for the Future' program.' In six years Quick Jobs has developed training in 30 different occupations and approximately 2,500 students have enrolled in 270 courses."

The JobsNOW project provides opportunity for the college to expand its current short term training into new areas, he said.

Haderlie said that other agencies are part of the plan to make this imitative successful. "We have established working relationships with the Guilford County/Greensboro/ High Point Workforce Development Board, the Employment Security Commission, JobLInk Career System and local business and industry," Haderlie said.

The Workforce Development Board and GTCC's Center for Business and Industry also have established a regional information sharing group, having invited regional community college and Workforce Development Boards to participate, he said.

Cozart said, "Our enhanced Workplace Competency Skills course also provides instruction on 'How I can be GREEN,' to every JobsNOW participant. Other modules will include 'green' topics within the curriculum such as a better use of energy at work and conservation resources in our buildings, travel and especially at home."

Additional information about the programs is available by calling 334-4822, Ext. 4213.

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