Workforce center receives federal grant

SUMMIT — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced the award of a $4.8-million federal grant to support the rebuilding and expansion of the Regional Workforce Training Center at Southwest Mississippi Community College (SMCC) in Summit.

The award represents an investment by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the planned $6-million project, which will expand the center that suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Gustav in 2008. The disaster recovery project is being funded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

SMCC applied for the EDA grant as a disaster recovery project based on the job losses sustained following Gustav. The expanded center will offer new courses in emergency medicine, disaster readiness and homeland security. According to the EDA, eight existing companies have committed to support the center, which serves Amite, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson counties.