Surry Business

Sunday’s edition of the Winston-Salem Journal puts a personal face on the plight of unemployed textile workers in Surry County and how they’re preparing themselves for future jobs. The article by Sherry Youngquist and Richard Craver focuses on Nancy Pruitt, 53, whose 37 years in textile mills ended on July 13 (coincidentally, her birthday) and on Robin Slate, 36, who worked in the mills since she was 16. Pruitt is working on her GED at the Workforce Development Center at Surry Community College and hopes to become a certified nursing assistant. In January, Slate will begin SCC classes for medical assistant’s training.

Surry Community College is adding classroom space and courses to accommodate the influx of displaced workers seeking training this fall. See story here.