FTCC Offers Free Training for Unemployed, Underemployed and Some Military Veterans

More than 100 residents in Forsyth and Stokes Counties will get free job-training. First they must qualify.

Forsyth Technical Community College is among 50 community colleges in North Carolina offering a free work training program called Back to Work. It provides free, short-term occupational training for adults 18 and older who are North Carolina residents, unemployed or under-employed. The fields include electronic health-records specialists, electrical linemen, facility-maintenance technicians and welders. Classes are 6 months or less and will begin next January and February.

Sharon Anderson is the Dean of Community and Economic Development.  She says this is the second year FTCC has offered this program. The goal is to enroll 175 students and they'll have a partner during their training. “Each person will have a success coach," explains Anderson. "It's their job to make sure the person is enrolling in the job that's appropriate for where they are.  To decide if they have any limitations or to help them research a career.”

According to Anderson, the North Carolina General Assembly has given more than $5 million dollars to fund Back to Work programs at 50 community colleges. FTCC is getting more than $173,000. The money covers the costs for books, tuition and certification. Students in FTCC's program do pay a 5-dollar school fee.

FTCC's Back to Work program debuted during the 2012-2013 school year. 138 out of 154 students completed the training. Anderson says some of the most successful students are older workers. “Their work ethic is very different from what we see in younger students who come to the training program," says Anderson. "One of the comments from employers is we do a good job in training them but they're still having problems getting to work on time, working with other people. So having older workers in those classrooms really helps set the tone for younger people who don't have that same work ethic.”

This new grant also focuses on helping unemployed military veterans and members of the North Carolina National Guard. They will be trained in the fields of emergency medical technicians, firefighters, pharmacy assistants and certified nursing assistant. Additional information is available at 336-734-7630.

Learn more at one of FTCC's information sessions:

• December 4    Winston-Salem Urban League at 201 West Fifth Street               10:00 a.m.
• December 5     North West Forsyth Center at 3111 Big Oaks Drive                       10:00 a.m.
• December 5     Stokes Center at 1165 Dodgetown Road in Walnut Cove               1:30 p.m.
• January 15       Swisher Center at 1108 Swisher Center Road in Kernersville     11:00 a.m.
• January 21       Stokes Center at 1165 Dodgetown Road in Walnut Cove               2:00 p.m.
• January 29      Goodwill at 2701 University Parkway in Winston-Salem            10:00 a.m.
• February 6      FTCC West Campus at 1300 Bolton Street in Winston-Salem    10:00 a.m.
• February 12    North West Forsyth Center at 3111 Big Oaks Drive                       10:00 a.m.
• February 26   Stokes Center at 1165 Dodgetown Road in Walnut Cove                2:00 p.m.