Design Team Discusses Employment Issues

The good news is that the federal prison is coming, and job opportunities will abound. The bad news is that unless local residents prepare now, the jobs will end up going to those outside of McDowell County .

Such was the consensus of the Bureau of Prisons Design Team, which gathered at the Welch Library Monday morning.

Facilitated by Dr. Robin Asbury, RESA VII Director of Work Place Education, the gathering was comprised of representatives from Bluefield State , McDowell BOE, EDA, McDowell County Commission, Southern WV Community and Technical College , TBAI, SAFE, SHED, Dept of Health and Human Resources, The Council of Southern Mountains, and WORKFORCE Employment Programs.

In touching on the impediments to employment, Dr. Asbury shared a few demographics of McDowell County . She noted that 37 percent of the adults 16 and over have trouble reading above a fourth grade level. Twenty-five percent of the population, age 25 and over, don't have a high school diploma. Drugs and a poor credit rating are the third negative.

“I'm not pounding on McDowell County ,” Asbury said. “We have the same challenge throughout the state.”

Though substantial, such negatives can be overcome synergistically through various agencies working together, she said.

As for the credit rating and the drugs, Asbury noted, there is still time to clear up both the problems, “if people will only do it.”

The WV Workplace Education Program works with businesses, industry community colleges, vocational centers, economic development authorities, and adult education to provide basic skills to job seekers, Dr. Asbury said.

The agencies represented at the meeting, she said, can supply the assistance to meet the many challenges that local job seekers face.

Dr. Tim Nuckols, Director of Wyoming/McDowell Campus, Southern WV Community and Technical College , pledged his assistance. Noting that Southern offers several classes for in-state residents at only $71 a credit hour, he said, “We will work with anyone to increase the productivity of anyone who needs jobs.”

It's important, he added for education to be accessible both geographically and financially.

EDA Director Rachel Lester offered office space and help in marketing any classes that will be offered. The EDA, she said, would be the “go-to place” and a conduit of information for the public.

In providing an update on the federal prison, Lester said that the design process is 95 percent complete and that the builders could be on site as early as next month.

The Bureau of Prisons, Lester said, will bring around 40 percent of their employees with them. The remainder will be hired locally. All job applications, she said, will be taken on-line and scored by a computer.

It's important, she said, to prepare both adults and students for the career opportunities that the federal prison will create. There is still time, she stressed, for adults to earn their GED or to brush up on the basic skills required for any type of employment.

The permanent jobs aside, Lester said, that hundreds of laborers and a variety of contractors will be needed during the construction phase, which is expected to begin soon. The EDA she said already has over 100 pre-employment applications for laborers. The pre-applications will be turned over to Clark Construction, which will then send the job applicants a regular employment application. For additional information, contact the EDA at 436-3833.

Classes scheduled in the near future, which will assist job seekers, include a credit counseling class November 9, 6-8 p.m. at the WORKFORCE WV, Welch. The class is free, but enrollment is limited. Early registration is required. To apply for classes call the EDA.

Registration for classes in Job Readiness and Introduction to Corrections will be held January 20, 2007, 9 a.m. at the McDowell Vocational and Career Center . For additional information, phone Roy Bolen at 294-8346.

October 27, 12 noon, Margaret Hambrick, former warden at Alderson, will be at the Welch Area Chamber of Commerce/EDA luncheon to discuss economic development enhancement opportunities. The public is encouraged to attend.

--Cathy Patton (Welch News)