Catalyzing Change in Rural
Economically Distressed Areas
Discover Columbus County
Employment Status
 Unemployment Rate:
9.6% (Jan. 2003)
 Total # of Job Losses since 1996:
3,530
Southeastern Community
College is the ray of hope for the
citizens of Columbus County.
Workforce Development
+ Economic Development
Brighter Future
SCC’s Continuing Education Division
 Provides specific workforce development training
programs for:
Individuals who did not graduate from high school
Those who need to update skills and/or to retrain in
a vocational or professional area
SCC’s Continuing Education Division
“Your Training Partner”

A full-service training partner that provides:
A comprehensive training needs analysis
Custom-designed training classes & programs
A comprehensive training facility
Qualified & experienced training professional in such areas as:
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ISO Certification
Team Building
Environmental Management
Quality Assurance (TQM)
Customer Service
Health & Safety/OSHA Compliance
Business/Industry Training Center
Comprehensive Training Facility
18,000 square feet
 Two, 22-station computer labs with instructor stations
 Small Business Center
 Fully-equipped TV production studio
 Office space for new industry
 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space for job training
 Meeting facilities (small & large)
 Faxing, copying, Internet access, specialized computer
hardware & software, e-mail
 Blue print copying capabilities

Southeastern Community
College’s Economic Development
contacts work with companies to
assure successful ventures.
SCC’s Services
include, but are not limited to:
 Coordinating the North Carolina Community
College System’s Customized Training and
Development Program
 Providing office space in SCC’s Business and
Industry Training Center for company personnel
during planning, development and
implementation stages of project
 Scheduling adequate meeting facilities on the
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college campus
SCC’s Services (continued)
 Arranging for job advertisements in newspapers
and on television
 Assisting in the recruitment of personnel
 Assisting industry personnel locating in the area
with selection of schools for dependents, advise
on medical services, assistance with obtaining
licenses, etc.
continued
SCC’s Services (continued)
 Providing up to 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space for job
training
 Producing employee training videos
 Supplying laptop computer and/or workstation
with appropriate software (i.e., AutoCAD)
 Providing blue print copying services
 Providing satellite teleconferencing
 Purchasing goods & services
Business Development Centers
Business Development Centers

Two facilities
16,000 sq. ft.
24,000 sq. ft.
Approximately 50 percent of floor space suitable for
manufacturing & light assembly
 Approximately 50 percent of floor space divided into
offices for businesses offering professional &
administrative services
 Rent negotiated based on graduated scale
 Anticipated length of occupancy is two years

SCC’s Small Business Center
(SBC)
SBC’s Mission Statement
To help the owners and employees of existing and
potential small businesses through training and
educational programs, professional counseling
and referral services, and information
dissemination.
SBC Links Cooperatively with:
 Business Leaders
 Civic Leaders & Organizations
 State & Local Governments
 Universities & Other Colleges
Entrepreneurship Programs
Offered by the SBC
 Micro Intake Professional (MIP)
 Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning
(REAL)
 Individual Development Account (IDA)
SBC Has a Multitude of Offerings
 Seminars, workshops and courses are designed
to help entrepreneurs and small businesses to
be successful. Topics include:
How to Start a Business
How to Write a Business Plan
Financing a Business
Marketing for Success
Record Keeping and Taxes
SBC Client, Betty Sturdivant
 “By attending free Small
Sturdivant sitting with
her first client, Charles
W. Coleman.
Business Center seminars, I
was able to write a business
plan, get a bank loan,
become certified by the
N.C. Department of Aging,
and open the doors of my
business – Abundance of
Love Adult Daycare in
Whiteville, N.C.”
Columbus County
JobLink Career Center
JobLink’s Mission Statement
To utilize all employment and training resources to
develop a well-trained, qualified and diverse
workforce.
JobLink Services for Customers
 Career & Personal Assessment
 Employment Readiness Preparation
 Short-term Skills Training
 Literacy Training
 Job Placement & Follow-up
 Transportation Assistance
 Childcare Assistance
JobLink Services for Employers
 Facilities for Interviewing
 Labor Market Information
 Help for Employers
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
 Employment Trends Information
 Economic/Demographic Information
 Customized Training
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JobLink Services for Employers
 Lay-off Aversion
On-site Services
Outplacement
Needs Assessment
Job Fair
 Customized Training
 Qualified Applicants Pool
JobLink Partners
Employment Security
Commission
 Vocational Rehabilitation
 JobReady (STW)
 Telamon
 Southeastern
Community College

Department of Social
Services
 Community Action Agency
 Family Resource Center
 Public School Systems (2)
 Commission of Indian
Affairs

Impact of JobLink’s Services on
Economic & Workforce Development
in Columbus County
 Over 108,500 individuals (duplicated count)
served since 1993
 Approximately 12,500 contacts thus far in 20022003
 15,500 (duplicated) contacts in 2001-2002
Other Services
 Provide financial assistance with tuition,
instructional supplies, transportation, and
childcare through Workforce Investment Act
(WIA)
 Recently coordinated “Employment Fair” for
Wal-Mart
Community Connections
Program
1997 - present
Funding Source
U.S. Department of State administered by the
Office of Citizen Exchanges
Moldova
Russia
Since 1997, SCC has:
 Hosted 111 interns
Eight groups of Moldovan entrepreneurs
Four groups of Russian entrepreneurs
 Subcontracted 86 interns to three other N.C.
community colleges
Moldovan Interns
Additional Workforce & Economic
Development Activities
E-NC Initiative
 Digital Literacy Training (Grant through Rural Internet
Access Authority)
 Through use of RCCI funds, sponsored “fact finding” trip
to Tupelo, MS to explore Tupelo’s journey of
transformation
 Assumed leadership role in 21st Century Communities
Project through N.C. Department of Commerce
 Provided expertise in redesigning Columbus County’s
Economic Development Commission’s Web page

Host to African Delegations
Workforce Development Training
Opportunities Offered by SCC’s
Continuing Education Division
 Customized Training
 Workplace Basic Skills Enhancement
 Job Readiness
 Training Videos
 Seminars & Workshops
Southeastern Community
College has the resources,
experience and expertise.