With unemployment up from its previous levels, efforts are underway locally to help workers learn new skills.

"I was looking for something to get me back on track, back in the right direction," said Donald Creekmore, one of a number of people in this area and around the country who are now facing job layoffs.

Creekmore said he's been told he will be laid off from his job of three years.

"I've got to do something," he said.

What he's doing to help himself is taking advantage of free training that is being offered through Meridian Community College's Workforce Development. It's paid for by a grant from the Department of Labor and the West Alabama/East Mississippi Wire Grant. It's an 8-week training in welding for anyone interested.

"We put an advertisement letting people know about this class and it was filled in one day," said Dan Talley, assistant dean for MCC's Community and & Business Development Division.

The program was put together within the last month and is in its second week of class. Talley said participants meet for four hours once a week, where they learn the basic skills in welding. They can then continue the study and enroll in a one year course to become certified.

With similar classes also offered in the areas of plumbing and forklift training, Talley said these sessions are giving participants an advantage.

"We have a lot of people in east Mississippi and west Alabama who have a wonderful work ethic, but in the current economic times, they are looking to develop some new skills or seize new opportunities that they may be able to take advantage of," said Talley. "Meridian Community College, under the direction of our local businesses and industries, is striving to provide those opportunities. So, as the economy turns back around we'll be the 'first ones out of the shoot, ' as the governor said."

"If you don't, you won't ever find anything," said Creekmore. "You've got to step up. Get to the plate. Swing and hope you hit."

Talley said the current plan is for the classes to continue for as long as they are needed.