As part of Gov. Beverly Perdue's JobsNOW "12 in 6" initiative, Sandhills Community College is ready to begin offering a special short-term training program for displaced workers, employment seekers and underemployed individuals.

"JobsNOW is designed to provide participants with necessary skills for employment," said Alan Duncan, senior director for occupational programs. "Completion of the program can be accomplished in just six months."

Students will enter the program through the Continuing Education Human Resource Development Division, where they will receive job-related skills training. The second step of the process is an assessment in the Career Readiness Certificate Program, which provides workforce credentialing status to employers.

Students will then be coached and counseled by a JobsNOW coordinator and placed on an appropriate career pathway. Participants will leave the "coaching and counseling" portion of the program, returning to Human Resource Develop-ment for further job skills training.

Finally, job placement assistance will be provided through Sandhills' Human Resource Development Program and the local Joblink.

"The goal of the program is to retrain participants for a career pathway and help them re-enter the workforce in six months," Duncan said.

The career pathways selected for Sandhills Community College are certified nursing assistant I and II, Community Assistance Programs (CAP workers), welding, manufacturing, banking, food service and customer service/sales.

Anyone needing more information about this free program can contact Jenny Troyer at 695-3926.

Funding for this initiative is supported by the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Development and the Pee Dee Region Workforce Develop-ment Board.