1996

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ECCC Skillff ech Meeting Needs of Business/Industry

In 1993, the Mississippi Com– mun ity Co llege Foundation became involved in the project and established what is known as the Millennium Group, a diverse group ofleaders from acrdoss the state with an interest in workfor– ce improvement. With the aid of a Kellogg Foundation grant, this group provided a report to the people of Mississippi, and it was used by the state legislature as the cornerstone for passage of the Workforce Act. The act, passed by both houses without dissent- . ing vote, p rovides for the crea– tion and development of a regionally-based delivery system for educational training in the state, and also calls for the estab– lishment of an integrated and coordinated workforce develop- ment strategic plan. .., '1t is an exciting time for busi– ness and industry in our area," Marshall said. '1 can think of no time in our history when more emphasis has been given to pro– ducing outstanding workers for our state."

Through the Skill/Tech One– Stop Career Center, East Central Community College is meeting the needs of business, industry and individuals in its communi– ties through education, training, placement, assessment and con– sultation to provide east central Mississippi with a quality work– force. Under the provisions of the Workforce Act of 1994 and under the direction of statewide and district development councils, the ECCCCenterwas established along with career centers at each of the 15 public community col– leges. The Center is located on the Decatur campus. Earl Marshall, Center team leader, said theCenter serves as a focal point in the ECCC district for business, industry and indivi– duals to acquire information and services related to individual assessment, counseling, workfor– ce data, basic skills training, tech– nical training, student education, student placement and personal assistance to existing and poten– tial entrepreneurs. The Center is divided into eight service areas with an 11-member staff. The staff includes a team leader, industrial coordinator, workforce specialist, work-based learning coordina– tor, basic skills specialist, person– al development specialist, Small Business Development Center (SBOC) director and secretary, special populations coordinator, employment placement counselr through the Mississippi Employ– ment Security Commission and a Center secretary. Job analysis, testing, curricu– lum development, customized skills training, Total Quality Management training and deve– lopment of long-range training plans are only a few of the ser- vices available to employers. Ronnie Westbrook, SBDC director, said, ''Never before have all of these services been offered under one roof. This Cen-

ter is beneficial not only to employers and employees, but to individuals who are searching for employment or considering starting their own bUsiness." In the first 18 months of opera– tion, the Center completed 132 training projects and enrolled 2,850 students. Nine SBOCwork– shops were conducted with 306 people attending, and individual counseling services were pro– vided for approximately 500 peo– ple. The Center also provided programs for educational meet– ings, civic clubs and other special projects for an estimated 2,(XX) people. In the fall, the Mississippi State Workforce Development Coun– cil's "Best Practices" award was p resented to the ECCC team and U.S. Electdrical Motors (USEM) in Philadelphiaaa with th is award, the State Council recog– nizes community college/ business partnerships that exhi– bit continued success and inno- vation. Businessman Karl Brantley, ECCC District Workforce Deve– lopment Council chair from USEM, said these career centers as a whole have the potential to

Marshall explained that suc– cess of the centers will be deter– mined through evaluation from the state and district develop– ment councils a nd through records kept on job placement, length of time on the job and make Mississippi No. 1 national- w age rates. The Mississippi State ly in workforce training and eco Board for Community and Junior nomicdevelopment. Colleges is the primary support Eventhough the state's com- agency, as designated by the munity colleges are leading the Legislature. way with this type of service, the Currently operating approxi- road to reaching this goal has mately 80,000 students, com- taken several years to travel. munity colleges have exper- In 1987, community college ienced an enrollment increase presidents requested $1.2 million with the establishment of these in statewide funding for the crea- courses, according to the State tion of economic development Board. units at each of the 15 institu-• For more information about tions. However, funding was not any of the services offered provided. through the ECCC Skill/Tech Marshall said, "We were One-Stop Career Center, call already offering some of the (601)635-2111. Career Center services when the 1 v 1 ~ 1\.1'' .t' .l:J"\L.______ Workforce Act was passed. With ~STON COUNTY JOURNAL___ . this act, we were able to group RJDIAN STAR our services in the same location, ·------- giving workers and o ther indivi duals convenient access."

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