Surry Skill-UP
Surry Skill-UP is a Surry Community College workforce development in imitative with the following core components: 1) outreach and recruitment activities to individuals, communities and businesses adversely impacted by the changes in the tobacco industry; 2) skills assessments and short-term occupational skill training; and 3) financial assistance to students to meet their educational goals. In addition to these components, Surry Community College will implement classes, workshops and seminars that target current or potential farmers and the farming community in our two county service area. Labor market statistics reveals a downward trend in the number of farms, an aging farming workforce, high rates of unemployment, and high rates of families living below the poverty level. With the decline in tobacco farming and tobacco-related industries, access to education, occupational skills training and targeted workshops/seminars are essential to economic stimulus and recover