JUNE 25, 2009 ISSUE
High Country Workforce Board Launches RecoveryInTheHighCountry.com
What if there were one source where you could access local job-search information? Find resources to help you get a business idea off the ground? Locate information about training programs—from short courses to complete university degrees that you can earn online? Find help to keep your home out of foreclosure? Understand what federal stimulus funds mean to your household?
That one source is available today, a creation of the High Country Workforce Development Board and the only local recovery-focused website in the State of North Carolina: RecoveryInTheHighCountry.com.
With six of the seven High Country counties posting double-digit unemployment rates in April, the High Country Workforce Development Board wanted to develop a website that would not only get the word out about the additional Workforce Investment Act services for adults and youth that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will provide locally, but also to cast a much wider net to assist individuals and families who are struggling in the current economy, who are rethinking their career paths, who are considering the idea of starting a small business and who simply want to keep up with local, state and national economic news.
Whether you are employed or unemployed, the Recovery Act contains provisions that benefit practically everyone, and the site details those benefits—in a straightforward, easy-to-read way.
The Survive A Layoff section provides practical information about applying for unemployment benefits, taking advantage of Recovery Act provisions for continuing your medical insurance and understanding the additional benefits you can receive if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance.
The Find A Job section includes links to newspaper classifieds throughout the region; local hospital job boards; the Employment Security Commission and state jobs websites; Boone Craig’s List; and the university, community colleges’ and school districts’ jobs postings. Updated each week is a list of top jobs posted with the Employment Security Commission. The section also features pages devoted to exploring careers (with loads of occupation ideas and self-assessment tools), to marketing yourself, and to protecting yourself from job scams and online identity thieves, as well as special pages for veterans, workers over 40 and people with disabilities.
The Start/Save A Business section is filled with pointers to local and state resources that can help you every step of the way toward realizing the dream of owning your own business and also help existing business owners survive the economic downturn. The section includes an overview of ARRA changes to the Small Business Administration’s loan programs; information about Project GATE in North Carolina, a brand-new program for encouraging entrepreneurship in rural counties; and a wrap-up of small business news.
The Get Training/Upgrade Your Skills section provides up-to-date information on the total spectrum of educational services available in the region—from Basic Skills/GED programs to the Career Readiness Certificate credential to college and university programs to continuing education offerings. The section also includes a financial aid primer and links to a variety of aid-related resources.
The Events & Training Calendar categorizes events by type—networking, job search training, small business training or opportunity, grant opportunity, technical training—and provides detailed descriptions, locations, times and costs.
Stimulus funds are already hard at work in the High Country. As of May 28, 2009, 13 additional staff members had been hired, both to assist with board-level work and to provide direct customer assistance. The ARRA-funded N.C. Summer Jobs program has already begun on a small scale, with 52 young people placed in employment. In addition, 49 adults and dislocated workers have been enrolled in ARRA training activities to date. As of May 28, $50,009 of ARRA funds had been expended. The Stimulus Watch section of the website will track jobs creation and ARRA expenditures to provide full accountability and transparency.
Although some sections of the site are still under construction, Workforce Development Director Carole Coates decided to roll RecoveryInTheHighCountry.com out this week. “Please note that the site is still under construction; however, we’re so excited about the value of the existing content, we can’t wait to share,” Coates said.
In addition to completing the under-construction sections, the web staff will update the site at least three times per week throughout the recovery period with news, events and expanded content.
A link to www.recoveryinthehighcountry.com is now available on the ride side of the High Country Press homepage, which can be found by clicking to www.highcountrypress.com.
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