As the economy of North Carolina changes and the reliance on tobacco-related jobs is reduced, community colleges want to help our citizens respond to those economic changes. On Friday, February 12, at 11:00 a.m., the Tobacco Working Group will begin a process that will set a course to meet the needs of those who lose jobs or income in tobacco-dependent communities. This task force will help identify ways to better focus community college programs to meet the needs of those whose livelihoods are negatively affected by the drop in tobacco usage and quota loss which are likely to result from federal efforts.

The recent quota reductions and tobacco settlements, coupled with efforts to reduce cigarette consumption, will most certainly result in a decline in the tobacco economy. This will, in turn, create a loss of tobacco-related jobs. The affected farmers, tobacco factory employees, and workers in and owners of support businesses will need retraining and additional development of entrepreneurial skills. The most likely resources for this assistance are in our community colleges. However, the additional training and the provision of those resources will place a strain on an already underfunded system.

The Community college System in the primary training source of allied health personnel. These are among our most expensive programs and are among the programs most in demand for new start-ups and expansions. Since health-care concerns are to be addressed buy the settlement funds, the community college role in addressing them must be carefully considered.

In anticipation of that additional responsibility and added need, Community College System President, Martin Lancaster, created a task force to prepare an action plan to respond to the impending economic changes and the additional administrative, curriculum and budgetary demands on the system.

The goal in creating the group was to include members who could anticipate the change and prepare a course of action. Members include representatives from community colleges, agricultural organization, and those directly affected, farmers. The members of the group are: Dr. Ed Wilson, President, Wayne CC; Dr. Dick Brownell, President, Rowan-Cabarrus CC; Larry Wooten, Pender County, NC Farm Bureau; Warren Hepler, Duplin County, USDA Farm Services Administration; Billy Ray Hall, NC Rural Economic Development Center; Glynda Lawrence, Continuing Education, Pitt CC; Ann Hovey, Small Business Center, Rowan-Cabarrus CC; Dewitt Hardee, NC Department of Agriculture; Dr. Betty Harris, Department of Allied Health, Wake Technical CC; Robert Cottrell, NC Employment Security Commission; Dave Merrick, Small Business Center, Roanoke-Chowan CC; Polly Lamberth, Johnston County, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Jerry West, Wayne County tobacco farmer and Stanley Smith, Stokes County tobacco farmer.

This plan will allow the Community College System to work with the General Assembly and the Tobacco Settlement Foundation to adequately fund the necessary programs. This will ensure that additional demands for programs at the community colleges will not create an undue strain on the system budget. President Lancaster wants to be sure that "resources match the needs," so our citizens will get the services they require.

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