Tri-County Technical College Receives $494,590 in Workforce
Investment Act Funds to Provide Job, Placement Services

CONTACT: GLENN HELLENGA, EXT. 2165

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/16/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College has received $494,590 in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds to provide job and placement services to adults in the three-county area.

These WIA funds were awarded by the Pendleton District Workforce Investment Board and replace the Job Training Partnership Act funding that ends June 30.

"WIA is a work-first piece of legislation whose intent is to provide job and placement services in four locations in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties," said Glenn Hellenga, director of Employment and Training and the Counseling Center at Tri-County Technical College. "This new legislation mandates universal access to job keeping and seeking services for everyone."

Tri-County's award designates $246,024 for Intensive Services and $248,566 for Training Services Coordination.

"The focus of the Intensive Services component is job development and job placement," said Mr. Hellenga. "The component concentrates on services needed by participants, such as assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities and supportive service needs, as well as job and search placement assistance and career counseling."

Core services are available at Tri-County's One Stop Center located in Miller Hall, and at the Job Services Offices in Anderson, Liberty and Seneca. The College's Center is a cooperative venture with the S.C. Employment Security Commission that allows individuals to increase their employment opportunities by taking advantage of a variety of services. Ten computers are available to assist clients with the job searches at the local, state and national levels. Visitors have access to Internet job searches about job openings and company profiles. In addition, workshops on resume writing and job interviewing are available. The Center will be open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily beginning in July.

"All services are conveniently under one roof," said Mr. Hellenga.

"Participants will get involved with the intensive services case manager and will develop a plan of action to outline the person's educational and employment goals," added Mr. Hellenga.

Those persons who remain unemployed after receiving basic core services will be assigned additional services to include workshops, videotapes, computerized programs and other materials regarding pre-vocational services to enhance their
readiness for employment training, said Mr. Hellenga.

The training services coordination component concentrates on referring those unemployed participants for training activies based on assessment results, customer choice and recommendations. Eligible persons can have the cost of training covered by the WIA program if they choose training in an area that is in demand in the local labor market.

For more information, contact Glenn Hellenga at Ext. 2165 at one of these numbers: Anderson County, 225-2250; Oconee County -- 882-4412; Pickens County -- 859-7033; or Clemson/Anderson/Pendleton -- 646-8361. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled should call TDD/VOICE 1-800-735-2905.
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