Mar. 29--HIGH POINT -- Ryan Lindsay, facing a layoff in just a few weeks, wants a good future.

Lindsay explored the Guilford Technical Community College Quick Jobs program by attending an information session at Macedonia Community Center in High Point recently.

"I'm looking for another career," said Lindsay, a 25-year-old Lexington resident. "I have the manufacturing background. I also worked at Duracell."

Lexington is a Triad community hit hard by layoffs and plant closings. Earlier this month, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. announced the closing of its Lexington facility in the next three months, placing 83 employees on the unemployment line. The Employment Security Commission reported last week that the unemployment rate for Davidson County rose to 12.1 percent in January, up from 9.7 percent in December.

With layoffs and downsizing driving up the unemployment figures, GTCC is making an effort to train more workers rapidly and provide them the skills to take on a new job within 90 days of entering the Quick Jobs program. Lindsay said he was considering welding and nursing as possible new careers. "I'll be looking for scholarships too if I need them," Lindsay said.

While jobs are not guaranteed, placement rates are high, according to GTCC officials. The program has served more than 2,300 students in 250 classes.

"We have so many success stories from this program," said Bob Plain, GTCC Center for Business & Industry program director. "We've helped single mothers who needed work badly and a restaurant worker who worked hard to become an accountant."

-----

To see more of the High Point Enterprise, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.hpe.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NASDAQ-NMS:SSCC,

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.