Who should enroll?

Project Skill-Up, a program funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, is for people adversely effected by changes in the tobacco insustry.

Skill-Up can provide assistance for transitioning into a new career path, moving into a new direction in farming, or learning about the employment possibilities in the area.

If you meet one of these criteria, you may be eligible for Skill-Up assistance:

• A farmer who grows or has grown tobacco and has had a quota.
• A former employee of a tobacco-related plant who lost a job because of a plant closure due to changes in the tobacco industry.
• A family member of one of the above people.

Skill-Up can provide tuition, books, and required materials for short-term training in either curriculum (for credit) or occupational continuing education (non-credit) courses.  Some examples are:

• Medical and Health Care Skills
• Business and Industrial Skills
• Applied Technology
• Computer Skills
• Career Readiness Credential (CRC)

What do I do?

Step 1, Call Blue Ridge Community College's Basic Skills Office at (828) 694-1746 or email rickm@blueridge.edu or j_hilbert@webmail.blueridge.edu.

Step 2, Meet with a Project Skill-Up staff member to create a plan and receive a Project Skill-Up application.