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Prisoners 2nd Chance Gives Entrepreneurs 1st Chance
MAYHEW - - Second chances do happen at East Mississippi Community
College . But, so do first chances. The college’s workforce
development team has enlisted the help of prisoners from Noxubee County
to build a new center to help entrepreneurs start businesses.
“Utilizing prisoners for construction projects is a win-win,” said Bruce Hanson, Community Development Facilitator/Special Projects Coordinator for EMCC. “They can learn a skill, be ready to enter the work force upon their release from incarceration, save money for the college, and become a contributing member of the community.” So, prisoners will get a second chance.
“Our hope is the new entrepreneur center will be a catalyst to help new businesses form,” said Bruce Hanson. “We want new and existing businesses to be as successful as they once were in Noxubee County.” Noxubee County entrepreneurs will get a first chance – a good first chance – at starting new businesses.
EMCC’s work with communities to enhance facilities and support from entrepreneurs results from its participation in the WAEM Regional Initiative. This U.S. Department of Labor funded program engages college staff with community leaders to help them become “enterprise-ready” and aggressive in supporting entrepreneur development. Hanson has been working with Noxubee County leaders since 2006 on “enterprise-ready” planning and participation in the MyBiz Entrepreneur Network.
EMCC is working with Sheriffs in surrounding counties to help enlist prisoner help to construct new facilities on the college’s campuses and outreach locations. In return, prisoners will receive short term training on construction skills, including electrical wiring, plumbing, masonry, carpentry, and welding.
“The value of the program to the college and to the community is immeasurable,” said Hanson. “The college will save construction costs measuring in the thousands of dollars by enlisting the prisoner’s help.” The communities get important new facilities.
EMCC began working with prisoners in Clay County to aid in the construction of a new West Point Center in April of 2007. This pioneering work was a step ahead of new legislation introduced by the Bush Administration in 2008. On April 9 President Bush signed the “Second Chance Act” expanding job training and job placement services for prisoners. Much of the work with the Second Chance Act is conducted by Faith Based Organizations.
EMCC is using funds, received from an Appalachian Regional Commission Grant, to pay for the instructor costs, equipment, and supplies needed for the training classes. The grant was issued to EMCC for job training in counties with high unemployment populations. Training classes are being held at the Golden Triangle Campus, West Point Center, and at the Cal Jac Building in Macon.
The prisoner-workforce development program in Clay County proved to be so successful, the staff from EMCC went to the Noxubee County Sheriff in early April 2008 and proposed using prisoners to assistant in the construction of a new entrepreneurial center in the Cal Jac Building in Macon. The entrepreneurial center will provide incubator space, offices, and meeting rooms for entrepreneurs to start up a business.
Noxubee County, one of the poorest in the nation, does not have a surplus of plumbers, bricklayers, or electricians. When a job requires this type of work, it is usually filled by an outside person or company.
“Our hope is the new entrepreneur center will be a catalyst to help new businesses form,” stated Hanson. “We want new and existing businesses to be as successful as they once were in Noxubee County.”
Through the partnership with Noxubee County, EMCC will provide construction skills training utilizing the ARC grant. Prisoners who wish to participate in entrepreneurship training, funded through the WAEM Initiative, will be afforded that opportunity through the new Cal Jac entrepreneur center.
This innovative workforce training program is proving to be successful. Three former offenders completed the construction skills classes and were awarded certificates of completion. Each one was given a second chance by securing construction jobs on the $1.2 billion Severcorr plant in the Golden Triangle, just north of the Noxubee County line.
