Cape Fear Community College offers job training

With the current state of the economy, it can be hard to find a job especially if you don’t have an education or special set of skills.

However, a free eight week training program at Cape Fear Community College is hoping to change that.

A couple of months ago, Kevin Welsh lost his job when the U.S. Marine boat plant in Navassa shut its doors. Welsh said, “I was an assembler there I used to assemble cabinets for the boats.”

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he took the opportunity to learn something new. Now he’s a graduate of Cape Fear Community College’s Career Pathways Academy, along with about 20 others.

Welsh added, “I’m skilled in air conditioning HVAC, electrical installation and plumbing.”

The academy is state funded and free for qualified unemployed or under employed workers; it teaches them new skills, from electrical installation to administrative skills.

Graduate Diane Tyson said, “You can excel but you’ve got to put your mind to it and know that you can do it.”

The students leave Cape Fear Community college with the certificate of completion in hand, armed with confidence and new skills they enter the workforce with hope for the future.

CFCC will begin another eight week training course in January.

If you are unemployed or under employed and would like to see if you qualify for the next free program call the school at 383-1724.