BELDEN, Miss. - Itawamba Community College strives to be a leader in providing online education opportunities and training.  Now they're increasing their efforts.

Thursday (Nov. 5), at the Belden campus, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced the launch of E-Magnolia, a new online certificate and degree program that offers training relevant to Mississippi's workforce needs and economic conditions.

Using a technology-based learning delivery system, the program offers rapid retraining and re-employment opportunities to those who've lost their job, or those ready for an upgrade.

"It's going to allow them to rapidly retrain and it's going to provide the funds to do so," Special Programs Officer for MDES, Michael Curran explained after the announcement. "We're going to have scholarships up to three-thousand dollars, the participants will be asked to pay twenty percent of that and after they get their credential training it'll really increase the likely hood of those individuals finding employment."

E-Magnolia focuses training efforts in high-growth industries and occupations identified as experiencing shortages of skilled workers. Targeted industries include but are not limited to:  health care, energy, information technology, community and social services, office and administrative support, construction, and advanced manufacturing.

Open enrollment for E-Magnolia begins November 9 and runs through November 30. Interested individuals, 18 and over, must complete a self-assessment form and enrollment form and submit them to their local WIN Job Center for consideration. The program is available to individuals who are determined to be suitable for online training and who, once trained, improve their chances of getting a job or for getting a better job.

According to Les Range, Executive Director of MDES, "Scholarships of up to $3,000 are available to 45-500 participants interested in this effort." Participants are responsible for 1/5 of the total cost of their training program.

Information about the E-Magnolia program is available at the WIN Job Centers throughout the state, on the MDES website, www.mdes.ms.gov, and at www.e-magnolia.org.