WESSON — Copiah-Lincoln Community College has received a grantfor almost $370,000 to implement a program to assist out-of-schoolyouth with meeting high school education requirements and obtainingjob training skills.

WESSON — Copiah-Lincoln Community College has received a grantfor almost $370,000 to implement a program to assist out-of-schoolyouth with meeting high school education requirements and obtainingjob training skills.

Co-Lin’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday to accept the $369,848grant from the Central Mississippi Planning and DevelopmentDistrict. Co-Lin received the largest share of approximately$800,000 that was divided among four community colleges for theprogram.

School officials said the grant would allow Co-Lin to addservices and personnel under the umbrella of its Adult BasicEducation program. They credited Jeff Posey, director of continuingeducation, with the program’s success.

“It has become evident that our program is among the best in theentire state,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garner.

Garner said Posey works hard and keeps abreast of issues relatedto adult education. He said the grant funds are an “extraincentive” for Co-Lin based on its past success.

“We’re going to do things that need to be done,” Garnersaid.

Under the program, in cooperation with Southcentral MississippiWorks, the program would target out-of-school youth, including highschool graduates who are unemployed or are basic skills deficient.The program would provide occupational skills to those peopletargeted by the program.

In other business, long-time Chairman of the Board Dr. J.H.Stribling announced his intention to step down from the board afterapproximately 34 years. Stribling, who was unable to attendThursday’s meeting for health reasons, has been chairman of theboard since 1974.

The resignation will be effective at the end of July and a newchairman will be elected by trustees at the August meeting, saidGarner in announcing Stribling’s decision.

“Nominations for chairman will be submitted to the president’soffice in the interim and a new chairman will be voted on inAugust,” Garner said.