Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Want to be prepared to go back to work?

Training, especially for Lowndes County residents who need to gain skills to re-enter the workforce, will begin Tuesday, May 30 at the Rural Institute for Technology Education (RITE) Center next to Head Start Headquarters in Hayneville.

Wallace Community College Selma Ready to Work classes offering free job skills and pre-employment training in a six-week course will be held at the center in Hayneville Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. until 12 noon.

The program is being funded by South Central Alabama Development Commission (SCADC) with assistance from the Lowndes County Commission.

Tucson Roberts, an economic development consultant with the SCADC is working with Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd on the program. Also involved are Wallace Community College Selma, Lowndes County Economic Development Commission Representative Gary Faulkner of The Faulkner Group and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Who do this?

According to information provided by the Ready to Work Program, successful participants will receive an Alabama Certified Worker (ACW) certificate, a National Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) and three hours of college credit at Wallace Community College, if the participant has their diploma.

“Lowndes County Public Schools has partnered with Wallace Community College Selma
and the Alabama Ready to Work Program,” explained Darryl Washington, director of curriculum and instruction for the school system.

According to the Ready to Work Program, all its Lowndes County graduates have been offered jobs. And participants will develop job skills and receive assistance with job placement, as well as earn two certifications that include money management, computer skills, career planning and resume writing.

In addition, there will be free round-trip transportation to the Lowndes County Technology Center in Hayneville and a $34 per week lunch allowance paid weekly after classes.

To enroll, contact the Lowndes County Board of Education at 334-548-2131.

To qualify, one needs a high school diploma or equivalent, a Social Security Card, proof of residence and a photo ID.

Tyson Howard, executive director of the SCADC said when a study of Lowndes County economic development was made, it was realized that many manufacturing jobs were being filled by out of county residents.

“We realized that we had a lot of young adults, 18-19, 24-25 years-old, who were not going to college, weren’t employed or in military service.” He said it was decided to get those young adults training to help them be able to apply for jobs and become employed.

Faulkner said the Ready to Work Program is “to help facilitate employment opportunities in Lowndes County.”

For more information, call 334-548-2121 or email alice.logan@wccs.edu.