1/14/2009 6:00:00 PM ECCC offering special rate to assist laid off workers
East Central Community College in Decatur is offering a special "two-for-one" rate for designated academic and technical courses for the 2009 spring semester in an effort to assist dislocated workers, including those from Pearl River Resort, who were affected by a struggling economy.
Meanwhile, The Neshoba Democrat will offer free work wanted classified ads to laid off Pearl River Resort workers to help mitigate the impact of income loss on the local economy, the newspaper announced.
The ads are limited to 25 words, will run for four weeks and can be renewed. Call 601-656-4000 or go to neshobademocrat.com/classifieds.
ECCC President Dr. Phil A. Sutphin announced the historic move specifically in the wake of the more than 1,500 unemployed workers residing in the college's five-county district who are no longer employed due to industry and business closings or downsizing, and other factors affecting the economy.
The special "two-for-one" rate also encourages other prospective part-time students to enroll in college classes.
"We sympathize with those who have lost their jobs and want to do all we can to help these valuable members of the workforce either learn a new trade or continue their education and earn a degree," said Dr. Sutphin. "Hopefully by reducing the cost of college courses, many of the dislocated workers and as well others interested in taking college classes will take advantage of the special rate and can work toward starting new careers."
Members of the College's Workforce Development staff and other college officials met with approximately 500 dislocated workers at a rapid response meeting last week at the Choctaw Hospitality Institute in Choctaw. It was recently announced that nearly 600 workers lost jobs at the Golden Moon Resort and Casino located on the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw.
To qualify for the 2009 Spring Incentive Two-for-One program, students must first enroll in one or two courses offered either on the Decatur campus or any off-campus location, and then select an additional free course from a "designated" list of classes. The incentive program applies to part-time students only - those who enroll in no more than 11 hours of semester credit. (See related story page 2A for more information)
Persons seeking employment in Neshoba and other area counties are also invited to the East Central Mississippi Job Fair on Feb. 12 in the county coliseum.
Over 15 employers will be in attendance to provide information about employment opportunities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Employers from Neshoba, Lauderdale, Newton, Kemper, Winston and Leake counties will have booths set up, said David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership.
Other economic developers from those counties are working in conjunction with East Central Community College, the WIN Job Center, Pearl River Resort, and the Governor's Office of Job Fair Network to bring the job fair to the area to help people seeking employment opportunities.
Organizers are also making arrangements to provide transportation from area counties to the coliseum for the job fair, Vowell said.
Hopefully, that will be worked out later this month, he said.
Information on the job fair as well as other economic opportunities were also outlined last week at the Choctaw Hospitality Institute for employees affected by the recent layoffs at Pearl River Resort.
A numbers of those employees signed up to attend the first of several testing sessions Thursday for potential employment with the U. S. Census Bureau, Vowell said.
The testing sessions will be held in the Neshoba Business Enterprise Center.
Others who would like to sign up for future testing should call 1-866-861-2010.
"The Census positions are expected to pay between $8 and $17 an hour," Vowell said. "Some will entail about five weeks of work while others positions will last about two years."
Laid off workers were also encouraged to call the Mississippi Employment Security Commission at 1-888-844-3577 to file for unemployment benefits.
MESC will offer workshops at a later date at CHI in regards to resume preparations and jobs search skills training and perhaps other training classes as well.
