ELLISVILLE – There are no signs of slowing when it comes to the growth and the additional programs being offered at Jones College’s Greene County Center in Leakesville. Supervisors and college officials broke ground on the facility in 2009 as the first of the college’s free-standing centers or “mini” campuses in the JC district. Three additional Centers have since been established in Bay Springs, Stonewall, and Waynesboro to expand the reach and opportunities offered to Jones College’s students because of the vision of college and community leaders in Greene County 15 years ago.
“This is a perfect example of a community effort driven by the leaders of Greene County to bring economic development to every home and every family that calls Greene County home,” said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith at the grand opening ceremony, January 17, 2012.
From the beginning, representatives from the Greene County School District, the Board of Supervisors, Community Bank and Singing River Electric Power Association, worked together to secure a zero-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Service to provide another level of education and training to help fund the $1.1 million dollar, 17,440 square foot Greene County Center which has led to the improvement of economic development prospects in the region.
“The Pipefitting lab was only 300 square-feet and now we’re teaching in a 2,200 square foot facility and I’m able to teach almost three times as many students,” said pipefitting instructor, Skip Holland who was the first teacher of the program at the Greene County Center prior to the facility’s opening.
Jones College began offering adult education and workforce welding and pipefitting classes in 2008. In 2012, academic classes were offered at the Leakesville facility, including English Composition and Psychology. The Greene County Board of Supervisors then introduced the Tuition Assistance program in 2013 and with that, combined with more students attending classes from surrounding counties, the need to expand became apparent by 2017. Dean of the Greene County Center, Alan Cook reflected on the Center’s beginnings since he has been affiliated with the facility during the initial building stage in 2008.
“I was actually involved with building the facility through our construction company, which did the electrical work,” shared Cook. “I knew everybody out there and to see how it serves the students in that area, and even since I’ve been hired as Dean of the Center, I see it more and more. There are so many students that the Center serves that would otherwise not go to college. The Greene County Center is conveniently located because the length of travel to Ellisville or the Gulf Coast prevented many from an education and job opportunity or training in the past.”
To accommodate the growing demand for services, an additional 13,680 square feet was added in 2020. Cook is excited to now offer more medical programs and expand the electrical technology program.
“Our first Phlebotomy class graduated this spring, and was offered again this fall, as well as the Certified Nursing Assistant program,” said Cook. “We are expecting approval to begin offering the Medical Assistant program very soon, and hopefully, we can also get the EMT program started in the near future. The Practical Nursing to Associate Degree Nursing Bridge Program is another opportunity for nurses to continue their education and improve their skills that we hope to be able to offer before long.”
The Greene County Center offers Welding for credit and Workforce Certification, as well as day and night classes. Additionally, the Center provides Adult Education, the Out of School Youth program, CDL-Commercial Truck Driving, and the “Smart Home” course as part of the Electrical Technology program.
“It’s the next level in electrical technology. People like new technology. It’s just like a cell phone. If a new cell phone can do something different or new, we want it. Smart Home wiring involves connecting smart devices like light switches, receptacles, thermostats, door locks and even sprinkler systems. It gives you the luxury of controlling these devices locally and or remotely. Basic installation and programming of smart devices is covered in the electrical technology course to help students learn the new technology in the electrical field,” explained Cook.
The Greene County Center has impacted thousands of students and employees in the region who have taken classes or training to improve their skills and income. In the future, Cook said they will continue to build on the solid education and training foundation the Greene County region has enjoyed for decades to come. For more information about the Greene County Center’s programs, call 601-477-4238 or email student navigator, Menyone Barrow at menyone.barrow@jcjc.edu or visit the website, https://www.jcjc.edu/workforce/locations/greene-campus/