Madison County can offer new and existing industry custom designed pre-employment training, post-employment training, and upgrade-retraining services. These programs are available through the Industrial Services Bureau of the State Department of Education in conjunction with the community/junior college system. The local industrial training coordinator in each community or junior college district is responsible for the administration, planning, and coordination of all industrial training projects funded by the State Department of Education in that district. The State of Mississippi Community and Junior College System operates 15 community or junior colleges in 36 centers across the state. Business and industry in Madison County utilize the facilities and workforce training expertise at Holmes Community College, Ridgeland Campus. The pre-employment training program can be conducted at the plant site, at the community or junior college campus, in a mobile unit, or at another designated facility. Instructor costs are reimbursable and negotiated on an individual project basis. The length of the pre-employment training is also negotiable, but typically conforms to the accepted training standard and practice of the industry. Costs for training materials in the pre-employment training program may also be reimbursed as part of the negotiated agreement.

Services available through this program include:

• Job analysis
• Assistance with development of long-range training plans
• Workplace basic skills
• Industry-specific pre-employment training
• Pre- and post-employment screening, testing, and training
• Customized skills training
• Total Quality Management
• Management, supervision, and leadership training
• Advanced skills training
• Custom-designed training manuals and multi-media aids.

Upon completion of the pre-employment training program, the employer has the option of choosing the candidates to be retained for employment. The costs of the training program may vary depending upon the type of training requested. The cost of each program is negotiated based on required training needs of each industry. Custom designed training manuals and multi-media training aids are available as a part of the industrial training program.

Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

Working in conjunction with the State of Mississippi’s workforce training program, the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is used to assist new and existing companies with the retraining of displaced workers. In the WIA program, employers may be reimbursed up to 50 percent of wages for new workers for up to six months. When participants complete the training and enter un-subsidized employment, the employer may realize additional savings through a tax credit available under the Targeted Job Tax Credit Program. WIA assistance is provided through the Mississippi Development Authority. Information about WIA offices closest to Madison County is listed below.

Central Mississippi Planning & Development District
PO Box 4935
Jackson, MS 39296
601-981-1511

WIN Job Centers:

Jackson
420 East Woodrow Wilson Drive
601-368-2900

Jackson
350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite 300
601-914-0230

Pearl
212 St. Paul Street
601-939-0786