Newsworthy Events & Updates
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Mitchell Chamber Celebrates National Small Business Week May 27
Posted May 24, 2010
The Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2010 Small Business Celebration Luncheon and Quarterly Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 27, at 12:00 p.m. at the Mitchell County Historic Courthouse in Bakersville. The event will include the presentation of the inaugural Sam Phillips Award for Entrepreneurship to a local business owner. The cost is $11 per person and must be paid in advance. RSVP by Tuesday, May 25, by calling 828-765-9033 or emailing scarver@mitchell-county.com.

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Two-Day Grant Writing Course in Boone June 2 & 3
Posted May 24, 2010
The NC BioNetwork BioBusiness Center has received matching funds from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to provide quality, proven grants development training across the western North Carolina region. The two-day grantsmanship training events will target life sciences and other community and economic development opportunities while addressing the key components of a successful grant request, including development of a statement of need, budget, timeline, and identifying goals and objectives of project implementation. The training also includes one-on-one consultations with instructors. The course fee is only $25 and includes materials and lunch. In the High Country, the course will be held at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Room 112, on Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information and to register online, click to the grants course information page.

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North Carolina’s April Unemployment Rate Drops for Second Straight Month
Posted May 21, 2010
North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 10.8 percent in April, down 0.3 of a percentage point from March’s 11.1 percent rate, and 0.1 of a percentage point higher than April 2009, according to statistics released by the state’s Employment Security Commission.
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More Recovery Act Funding Comes to the High Country
Posted May 21, 2010
An additional $10.3 million in federal Recovery Act funding for energy efficiency block grants has been awarded to 58 projects in 52 local governments and 38 public school systems and community colleges statewide to help save on utility and fuel bills. Four of the awards—for a total $123,665—are in the High Country.
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Welcome to Recovery in the High Country
As of June 30, 2010, this site will no longer be updated. However, the extensive and valuable job search, training, and small business resources collected here are still available through the menu bar on the left side of the page.  We encourage you to explore and use these resources to develop your personal economic recovery plan.
With unemployment rates in the double digits across the seven-county High Country region, teenagers, young adults, first-time jobseekers and seasoned workers are all looking for ways to survive this economic recession. Recognizing that no one solution will apply to everyone, the High Country Workforce Development Board has created this website to provide resources and guidance that span the employment spectrum, from federally funded Workforce Investment Act services to entrepreneurial information.

Whether you want to work one on one with an employment professional or want to chart your own path, this information-packed site has been designed to give you ideas, hope, and direction.The members of the High Country Workforce Development Board know that recovery in our region will be built one jobseeker and one entrepreneur at a time. We urge you to use these resources to help build that recovery.
 
What Federal Stimulus Funds Mean to the High Country Print E-mail
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—the federal stimulus program—means $1.75 million in additional funds for youth and adult services provided through the Workforce Investment Act in the High Country.
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What Federal Stimulus Funds Mean To You Print E-mail
In addition to pumping 1.75 million more dollars into Workforce Investment Act services in the High Country—services that will directly impact hundreds of residents in Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Mitchell, Wilkes, Watauga, and Yancey counties—the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes a number of provisions that will or already have directly impacted practically every individual and family in our region, whether through tax breaks, incentives, direct payments, increased unemployment benefits, or subsidies. Are you aware of all the provisions within the stimulus act that will put more money in your pocket?
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NC Summer Jobs A Huge Success Print E-mail


Lots of Young People Had Jobs This Summer

Thanks to federal stimulus funds, 183 young people ages 16 to 24 in the seven High Country counties had the opportunity to get jobs this summer—jobs that paid above minimum wage and lasted for 6 to 8 weeks. In addition to the job experience, NC Summer Jobs participants had the chance to earn a Career Readiness Certificate, a valuable job-readiness credential that's recognized throughout the United States.
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Career Counseling & Training for Adults Print E-mail

 

 

Out of Work?

Thanks to federal stimulus funds, approximately 660 additional adults in the seven High Country counties will be able to obtain career counseling and training to help them move into good jobs in high-growth industries. Interested? Read more...