With all of the talk of qualified work forces, certifications and credentials, it is great to see Beaufort County on top of the trend and even greater to see that stakeholders are working together in this effort.

These stakeholders include local businesses, the Mid-East Commission, Beaufort County Community College and Beaufort County Schools.

The most recent example of great teamwork is the $120,000 North Carolina Back-to-Work grant that will fund a new worker-training program beginning in January at the college.

The grant is a result of a partnership between the N.C. Community College System and the N.C. Department of Commerce, funded by appropriations from the N.C. General Assembly. It provides funds for a certified production technician program at BCCC that will qualify those who complete it for entry-level jobs in area industries.

It targets the people who need it the most by offering the classes free to the unemployed and underemployed.

The certified production technician coursework involves training recognized by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council in four critical production areas — safety, quality and continuous improvement, manufacturing processes and production and maintenance awareness.

Students will also earn a Career Readiness Certification, a nationally recognized credential that verifies to an employer their skills in the areas of reading for information, applied math and locating information.

BCCC will offer the certified production technician coursework for an initial group of 100 people, according to Lou Stout, director of occupational extension at BCCC and the program’s supervisor.

Kudos to all involved in obtaining this grant and organizing the program. It is this kind of collaboration and forward thinking that will help Beaufort County prosper.

For more information, interested persons may contact Stout by telephone at 252-940-6307 or by email at lous@beaufortccc.edu.