Project Skill-UP assists individuals
who have been impacted by decreased tobacco production to stay
in farming, return to farming
or get training in an exciting new career.
"We are ready to accept people into the program now," Maureen MacNamara, the project coordinator, said. "We will evaluate what they want to do and what they need, then help develop a plan and implement it. We want to connect them with other resources and programs that may be available." Individuals set up a meeting with MacNamara and together they figure out what additional training is needed to meet their goals.
Start a New Career
Project Skill-UP offers individuals interested in starting a new career an assessment of their current skills, counseling about different career opportunities, placement in training programs, and financial assistance for tuition, books, and other costs.
Stay in Farming
For those individuals who wish to stay in farming, Project Skill-UP assists individuals in determining their need for additional skills or farming strategies. For example, some people may need to boost their computer skills while others may need assistance with diversifying farm products.
Farming Certificate Program
Finally, Project Skill-UP is creating a certificate program for farmers. This program will provide individuals who want to stay in farming or want to return to farming with specific training in business and farming skills needed for a sustainable farming career in the 21st century. The certificate program will include training in the five core areas of Crops Diversification and Revenue Streams, Land and Resource Management, Entrepreneurial Business Skills, Technology and Computer Skills, and Customer Service and Marketing Skills.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding through Project Skill-UP, individuals must be 18 years of age or older, a resident of either Madison or Buncombe county and able to show how their income or lifestyle has been affected by changes in the tobacco industry. "Applicants should be able to tell us how they as individuals or their family has been affected by these changes," said MacNamara. "People may have lost a tobacco related job or the family may have lost income due to these changes. It may be that your parents left farming or lost income due to loss of tobacco related income." If you are not sure if you are eligible, contact MacNamara at 254-1921 ext 5832 for more information.
Supporters
Supporters of the grant included the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, the Economic Development Coalition, the BioNewtork BioBusiness Center, N.C. Biotechnology Center, Farm Service, the N.C. State Horticultural Crops Center and the cooperative extension agencies and soil and water conservation districts of Buncombe and Madison counties.
Project Skill-UP is funded through a grant from
the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
For more information, contact MacNamara through e-mail at mmacnamara@abtech.edu or at 254-1921 Ext. 5832.
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