JobsNOW program benefits College community
Thanks to Governor Beverly Purdue’s JobsNOW 12 in 6 Initiative, qualifying displaced workers in Robeson County has the opportunity to receive training skills that will make them a stronger candidate for jobs that are in demand. The JobsNow 12 in 6 Initiative was developed by the North Carolina Community College System and is being implemented by the 58 community colleges in the state. The main objective is to train displaced workers in six months or less with the needed skills that will qualify them for jobs that are in demand locally and across the state. Funding for the JobsNow is supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
North Carolina is well-known for having an outstanding workforce. Last spring, the N.C. Department of Commerce allocated $13.4 million in federal recovery funds to the program and Robeson Community College has received $250,000 in funding to develop training programs and pay instructors to teach the classes. The College’s programs will provide adults the opportunity to be trained in a new career in no more than six months.
RCC has developed and offers 9 JobsNOW training programs that offer training in welding, phlebotomy, basic law enforcement training, office technology/customer relations training, professional medical coding, energy rating/weatherization, job readiness/key train lab and introduction to computers. These programs are condensed and concentrated and fall within a one-week to a six-month training time period.
RCC began offering JobsNOW classes last fall. To date, 45 participants have successfully completed the training program and 66% of the completers have acquired a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). The CRC verifies to employers anywhere in the United States that an individual has essential core employability skills in reading, math, and locating Information. Additional training classes are scheduled for the upcoming spring and summer terms.
RCC’s Vice President for Continuing Education, Justin Oliver is pleased with the College’s JobsNOW training and expects more participants to enroll in the upcoming classes.
“JobsNOW is a remarkable means for helping individuals train for demanding and gainful employment”, says Oliver. “
“One of the many benefits of the program are financial assistance means to cover fees and books for qualifying individuals. Without the financial assistance, many participants could not afford the cost of job training”, adds Oliver.
The North Carolina Community College System is a leader in workforce training and is unwavering in its commitment to helping North Carolina citizens recover from the economic crisis. State officials have worked with industries, healthcare agencies, law enforcement and other entities across the state to implant the value of JobsNOW training.
RCC JobsNOW completers will be eligible to apply for a career internship with various employers who are supportive of the job training program. RCC received a Golden Leaf Opportunities for Work (GLOW) job training grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation to assist individuals with career/skill assessment and job-ready skills to enroll in a career cooperative internship.
RCC President Charles Chrestman believes the Jobs NOW Program is just another mechanism RCC can help the citizens of Robeson County.
“These programs are designed to help a person build on the skills, they already have so their chances for re-employment are improved”, notes Chrestman.
