Specifically, M. A. Wiltse, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Office at C-GCC, said the federal stimulus bill is bringing $300,000 in funds to the agency for dislocated worker training and adult job training programs. Another $170,000, she said, is being allocated for summer jobs for youth and youth job training programs.

The job training programs are provided to “dislocated workers who are unlikely to be able to return to their job and who could use new job skills.” Through the initiative, eligible people receive tuition to pay for training for jobs that are in demand at the time. In the past, those have included jobs in accounting, jobs as nurses and truck drivers, and other positions area employers have had a hard time filling.

Aspects of the program at the college–specifically training for new jobs–had been put on hold in recent months after the entire annual budget for new skill training of “dislocated” workers—approximately $250,000—was spent long before the June 30 end of the fiscal year.    

Though the stimulus funding hasn’t been received and the job training program has until June 2011 to spend the funds, Wiltse said the new source of funding is already being used. Several dislocated workers who had been on a waiting list for the job-training program have been sent for training in the wake of the passage of the stimulus package. The majority of those being trained are pursuing careers as tractor-trailer drivers.

The new training opportunities come as the ranks of the region’s unemployed continue to swell. The unemployment rate in Columbia County reached 7.4 percent in January, up from 5.9 percent in December and 5 percent in November. Greene County had an 8.5 percent unemployment rate in January, up from 7.6 and 7.2 percent respectively for December and November.

C-GCC's Workforce Investment Office is a must-stop location for the unemployed. All who are laid off or fired must visit the office to receive unemployment insurance payments. In addition to the job-training program, the office also provides in-house assistance through seminars and one-on-one counseling. That includes career planning, interviewing skills, resume development, as well as training on:

• How to apply online for jobs
• Finding job leads
• Employment location
• Identifying useful job skills that can be transferred to a new job

Asked about $20 billion in federal stimulus funds targeting “green” jobs, Wiltse said the details of that job training program and funding remain sketchy. “We have not seen documentation yet on what constitutes those jobs and who would or could provide it locally,” she said.