Turning Point Applied Learning Center provides employment training assistance for disadvantaged residents of
several
counties designated by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia as
economically disadvantaged. Participants
in our training program are chronically unemployed or underemployed,
long-term public assistance recipients that lack the basic skills to
obtain and retain employment. Our
participants are referred to us from the local Office of Jobs and Family
Services.
Turning
Point works closely with its community, school and agency partners to
provide employment training that assists people in gaining economic
self-sufficiency through an innovative 13-week program that combines
classroom instruction with actual manufacturing work experience
in a
real-world environment.
Turning Point’s 13-week program, now in its 8th year and winner of numerous state and national awards, includes GED classes, adult basic literacy, life skills and employment “soft” skills training. What makes our program unique is that Turning Point also provides on-the-job- training in assembly, manufacturing, warehousing, customer service, and shipping and receiving in partnership with several local manufacturing companies. Participants in our program work in an actual sub-assembly plant environment earning a stipend as they overcome barriers to long-term productive employment. Graduates of our program are placed with local firms in entry-level manufacturing and service jobs with opportunity for advancement. Our placement and retention rates are nearly 90% and our community and business partners view our program as one of the most successful they have ever encountered.