Administrators at Copiah-Lincoln Community College announced anupcoming opportunity for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrinaand to individuals desiring a career change.

Co-Lin has been awarded a federal grant by the CentralMississippi Planning and Development District, enabling the schoolto provide an eight-week welding course free of charge. The weldingcourse will be offered on the college’s Wesson and Natchezcampuses.

“This is an opportunity to those who’ve been affected to go towork and make a good living wage,” said Louis Dugas, Dean ofCareer, Technical, and Workforce Education.

According to Dugas, the course will provide a vital educationalopportunity for those looking to gain a marketable skill.

The course begins on March 6 and is offered to individualsdisplaced by Hurricane Katrina, people temporarily laid off becauseof Hurricane Katrina, and to those who have been unemployed for anextended amount of time. The total 126-hour course will be taughtfrom 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Registration for the eight-week course will extend until March20. Additional courses may be offered following the completion ofthe eight-week class.

Those interested should contact Evelyn Peavy at the BrookhavenWIN Job Center at 601-833 -3511, Diane Brown at the Hazlehurst WINJob Center at 601-894 -2121, or Joyce Allred at Copiah-Lincoln’sNatchez campus at 601-446-1152.