1995

I~ - J S- CJS

WEEK OF

Construction industry, East Central nail down building trades loan

East Central Community Col– lege has become the first com– munity college in the state to benefit from a loan progra::l which is intended to increase the number of students purs..:– ing careers in the residential construction industry. The $30,000 interest-free loan provides a cash pool which ECCC will use tu purcha -.e building materials for the con– struction of a singlc-fami.y home. Construction of the home allows student=o to get hand-on experience at bulldbg a one-family residential .str-...:c– ture, then after construction the school can sell the home and repay the loan. Funding then will be made available to build additio:1al units under the same program guidelines. The loan is being sponsored by the Mississippi Home Cor– poration (MHC) and will be offered through a program called Building Experienced Tradesmen (BET).

"BET helps Mississippi homebuyers and renters," said Ben· ~iokry, MHC manager of r:-l.mning and research. '~sis­ ::-io::>i's workforce in construe– tic~ trades is aging as fewer }oung people enter these pro– fessions. Fewer skilled workers can increase labor costs and :.1ow the pace of construction. BET can help increase the supp– !y of young trained craftsmen, helping moderate cost increases in housing and improve the quality of housing produced. This makes housing more affordable for first-time home– buyers and renters." ECCC was the first commun– ity college recommended by the BET review team to receive a loan award as set forth in the BET proposal guidelines. The review team studied ECCC's vocational education facilities and discussed the program with John Adcock, ECCC dis– trict director. Another element of the program is an opportuni– ty for students participating in

RECEIVES BUILDING LOAN--From left Clark Howell, board of directors; Dr. Eddie Smith, president of ECCC; and N

Winters, MHC executive director. the program to receive scholarships. "We believe the addition of scholarship offerings will great– ly foster the growth of quality

residential construction men in the homeb industry," said Ricky Pea, planning specialist team member ____ _.

APPEARED IN:

CARTHAGINIAN_____ NESHOBA DEMOCRAT____ NEWTON RECORD_---"':.____ CLARION-LEDGER____

SCOTT COUNTY TIMES_ _ _ _ UNION APPEAL,_____ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL.___ MERIDIAN STAR._____