MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Willmot
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Microsoft program helps train workers for business, technical jobs
TRENTON, N.J. - Continuing his effort to bring jobs to the Mercer County Region, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced today that the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center will begin providing training vouchers to individuals for jobs in the field of business technology through Microsoft Corporation’s national “Elevate America” program.

Mercer County has not been immune to this economic downturn, and we all have been affected by reductions in workforce and increasing unemployment. I am pleased to partner with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Microsoft in helping train individuals for a variety of new careers in the technology field,” said Hughes, who recently broke ground on a county construction project that promises to bring 250 to 300 jobs to Mercer County.

Elevate America aims to help individuals understand the technical skills needed for a variety of jobs and opportunities, and offers training resources. Microsoft partnered with LWD and Mercer County One-Stop Career Center to help make the resources available.

The computer training offered ranges from basic skills to advanced courses that allow participants to earn Microsoft certification. Each training voucher is redeemable for free online training in Microsoft Windows, or one of the programs in the Microsoft Office suite. Each certification exam voucher is redeemable for a Microsoft Business Certification exam. The advanced technical professional-level vouchers are redeemable for free online training for workers or job seekers in IT career tracks such as Web development or database management.

This innovative public-private program will distribute 368 vouchers, and the criteria for obtaining those voucher is listed below. Please note: Vouchers at the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center are for Mercer County residents only.

Quick Fact Sheet
What:

• Microsoft 2007 Online 30-hour Training Business Worker Voucher
  Courses offered are Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, & Outlook
  
• IT Professional Voucher – Ideal candidate must have at least 1 year computer experience
  
• Microsoft Certification Exam Voucher (only for Business Worker Voucher programs)
  

Eligibility:

• Mercer County residency
  
• Possess or have access to Microsoft 2007
  
• One-Stop registration
  
• Attend One Stop Re-employment Orientation (RO) & meet with OS counselor
  

Certification Exam Voucher Criteria:

• Proof of completion of 30-hour training or
  
• Documentation through work history, education, or previous training of the ability to take the Microsoft exam without the 30-hour course
  
• Testing sites may charge a proctor’s fee for testing for Business Worker examinations.

Location:

• Mercer County One Stop Career Center – 26 Yard Ave, Trenton, NJ 989-6523
  

Deadline:

• Training vouchers must be activated & exam completed by August 24, 2010 to access the free exams. Otherwise individuals have one year to complete training from date of training activation but the free exam will not be available.

Process:

• Interested individuals should attend an RO and meet with a One-Stop Counselor. RO’s are held Monday & Wednesday 8:45 & 1:30; Tuesday & Thursday 9:00. Upon approval by OS counselor, customer will be issued one voucher. Once documentation of program completion is provided, an exam voucher will be issued. Subsequent vouchers can be issued for each course as they are completed. Please remember that the free exam vouchers are for the Business Worker courses only - not for IT courses.