 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 9 * May 10, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Hats Off to … County Employment
In 1994, a major industry that employed more than 6,000 people throughout Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester (S.C.) counties closed. An assessment of the dislocated worker population showed that most (60 percent) of them were forty years or older and 25 percent were female. Traditionally, these groups are more likely to be discriminated against when seeking employment and also suffer the greatest decline in wages. While the workers could seek retraining in other vocations, the cut in pay associated with starting at the bottom was unacceptable. Yet there was another option. Bolstered by large severence packages, many of the workers expressed an interest in starting small businesses. What they needed were sufficient skills for long term success. As a result, the Trident Entrepreneurial Training Program was developed under the direction of the Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester county councils. This innovative, hands on entrepreneurial development program focuses on the fundamental knowledge and skills essential to successfully starting and operating a small business. Training sessions are conducted by successful entrepreneurs with excellent credentials in small business issues. The program has been very successful. Of the 75 candidates who completed training, 42 started their own business. One year after completing training, 33 participants (44 percent) were still in business. This success rate is four times better than the normal one-year survival rate for small businesses, which is 10 percent. These businesses also created 152 new jobs in the region, which represents an annual payroll of $1.8 million. The cost of the program, including operating and training costs, was approximately $170,000. Hennepin County, Minn.
The program assigns prisoners to local companies that are experiencing labor shortages. The companies provide vocational training and work experience while paying meaningful wages. Prionsers who demonstrate the ability to learn and who possess an acceptable work ethic are offered post-incarceration employment opportunities. Prisoners who join the program agree to have a portion of their wages directly applied to any restitution, fines or child support obligations that they owe, in addition to a small deduction to defray the cost of incarceration. To date, the program has been very successful. The program currently involves eight companies and up to 58 prison workers daily. In 1997, the total program’s revenue was $392,000 and the cost of the program, including personnel, insurance and operating costs, was $148,00, which means net profit amounted to $243,000. Programs described in "Hats off" are winners of the 1998 NACo Achievement Awards. For more information on these programs, contact the NACo Research Division at 202/393-6226. (Hats Off was compiled by Peggy Beardslee, research associate.) |