NOW Program Implemented at LCC

Sandra West is the first recipient of the NOW Program benefits at Lenoir Community College.“New Opportunities for Workers,” NOW, program is a pilot program developed through The Rural Center to help dislocated manufacturing workers secure opportunities for self-employment.

Pictured left to right are: Lenoir Community College Small Business Center Director Alice Tingle, NOW recipient Sandra West, and LCC Coordinator/Director of Special Programs Renee Sutton.

This program identifies displaced workers who have sound business ideas, link them with business training programs, assist with the development of business plans and provide low-interest loans to enable those with successful plans to start their own businesses.

This plan involves your Small Business Center, NC Department of Commerce, Employment Security Commission, Workforce Development Commission, JobLink Centers and NC REAL, just to name of few of those involved.

Who does NOW effect? Fifteen counties are identified to pilot this initiative, including Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties, where manufacturing plants have closed and left employees unemployed. If you live in either of these counties and worked for one of the companies that closed, you may qualify for tuition free training in small business entrepreneurship at the college.

To find out more, visit the JobLink Career Center located at Lenoir Community College or call 522-4676 ext. 2008 or 2022.