Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) announces two intensive training initiatives for those struggling with unemployment. In this economy, sometimes it is not enough to "brush-up" on particular skills, but to prepare for a career requiring a breadth of skills and a clear objective in mind. This is not meant to minimize the criticality of continuous skill improvement, but for those enduring the challenges of unemployment a more comprehensive strategy may be necessary for career placement. Toward this end, SEVCA offers the following two programs:

Bookkeeping/QuickBooks Technology is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in bookkeeping. It provides comprehensive training on basic bookkeeping principles with a focus on theory. Participants learn basic accounting rules, explore the difference between accrual and cash basis accounting, study bookkeeping terminology and definitions used in bookkeeping language.

As participants learn the chart of accounts, they will work with debits and credits and apply them to transactions in accounts payable, accounts receivable, bill entry, check writing, and bank reconciliations. To complement bookkeeping theory, participants will create a company with QuickBooks and apply the theory to its practical application in financial software. As they learn bookkeeping principles in the theoretical section, they will then apply it to the practical application of QuickBooks.

Micro Business Start-up Training is an intensive program that provides participants with comprehensive classroom training, one-on-one business coaching, and connections to additional financial and other resources. The goal is to help potential entrepreneurs develop and carry out businesss plans and thereby manifest their dream of starting, growing, and sustaining a livelihood that they can call their own. Good candidates for success should have a solid employment history, and have developed significant skills and experiences that would serve as the foundation for a sustainable business.

This new program specifically targets seasoned, skilled dislocated workers who have been recently laid off or who may be re-entering the workfrce due to the loss of other family income.

Both of these programs will begin in April. For further information contact Guy Payne, Training Coordinator at SEVCA (802) 722-4575 ext 154 or email gpayne@sevca.org. If interested, please follow-up immediately because the processing of the applications will take weeks!