Elkin's Mayor, Lestine Hutchens welcomed over 100 invited guests to the grand opening of The Elkin Center of Surry Community College on Thursday. The center is a cumulative effort of The Town of Elkin and Surry Community College to provide a learning and retraining center for area residents.

The center's idea was formed in 2008 when the municipalities of Surry County came together for idea sessions to use the 2 million dollars that The Golden Leaf Foundation had assigned to Surry County.

"A group of about 200 people came together to meet, talk and vote on ideas for ways to spend the money in the county to the benefit of all," Hutchens said.

"When the idea for a workforce training center came up, we thought it was a wonderful idea for Elkin and its residents," she said. "Pilot Mountain has a center that was converted from an old textile mill.

"The N. C. Rural Center gave us our first $200,000 and with those funds we were able to get to know the rural center and all the resources available to small communities. With that money in hand we were able to leverage an additional $679,500 in funding for the center.

"There are so many to thank for their contributions and work on making this project a reality," Hutchens said. "One of the first people we talked to was Lucy Chatham of the Chatham Foundation. We told her we had a great idea and with that the Chatham Foundation gave us $300,000.

"When you're looking for money, one of the first places you go is home, so after 40 years of working with Yadkin Valley Bank, I went to Bill Long and asked for help with the funding. Not long after that meeting, I received a letter granting us $50,000."

Dr. Ralph Bentley, of Yadkin Valley Bank spoke to the gathered guests about their participation in partnering for the center.

"We are very pleased to be a part of this partnership," Bentley said. "The town of Elkin and its residents should be proud to have this center available for learning and retraining. We are glad to be a part of this community."

Dan Gerlach, President of Golden Leaf spoke of the dedication to the project by not only the Town of Elkin, but the Surry County Commissioners.

"I took my job on Oct. 1, 2005 and on Oct. 5, I paid my first visit to Surry Community College," Gerlach said. "I met with the mayors of Surry County, including Lestine. I think that the Elkin Center is a tribute to Mayor Hutchen's leadership and her vision for the Town of Elkin. She is a driving force behind the center.

"The purpose of Golden Leaf is to take the tobacco settlement money and to reinvest it in communities across the state in great ways," he said. "It's our role to go into the communities and look for those ideas. Usually when a project is proposed, there is a small group of people willing to work to make it happen. As I was driving to work one day, I called to ask about a meeting with the people interested in making this project a reality and just about drove off the road when I was told that there were 70 people to meet with. That shows you the dedication of the partners to make this learning center a reality."

District Manager of Lowe's, Chuck Elledge spoke to the group about their pleasure in donating $25,000 to the Elkin Center.

"Mayor, I stand in awe at what you've been able to do here," Elledge said. "We at Lowe's are proud to be a part of the center. When the request for funding came to us, it moved very quickly through our process. Our training, education and continuing education grants are made for this very purpose."

"As you walk through this center today, everywhere you see a cabinet in the center, thank Lowe's," Hutchens said."

As the ceremony continued, Commissioner Johnson spoke to the attendees.

"Congratulations on a great day for the Town of Elkin and the county of Surry," Johnson said. "The process for this project started in May of 2008 with meetings with the municipalities, the county and the staff of Golden Leaf," Johnson said. "We met monthly through the year with 125 people. Now that the center is a reality, it will be a great learning and resource center within the county. On behalf of the county commissioners, congratulations and thank you."

Jennifer Bumgarner, Assistant Secretary for Energy in North Carolina spoke about the vision the Elkin Center had for energy efficient building. She told the attendees that the Elkin Center is the first project completed using funds for energy conservation through the new department within the N. C. Department of Energy. Funds coming from the energy department are part of the federal recovery funds given to states.

"Elkin was first in line when the department opened up to apply for a grant," Bumgarner said. "A term we use a lot is shovel-ready and Elkin was prepared."

Hutchens continued to thank all of those who played interregnal parts in making this vision for Elkin a reality. She thanked the Elkin Board of Commissioners, the architect, Joe Siepel-Parks, the contractors, and the individuals who gave their support and ideas in making it possible. Hutchens also thanked the staff of the Town of Elkin individually for their tireless effort with the project. She continued to thank Surry Community College for their commitment to education and retraining of displaced workers.

Deborah Friedman, President of Surry Community College spoke about the college's commitment to residents of Surry County.

"We are so grateful to the Golden Leaf foundation, and the county commissioners," Friedman said. "We are now able to provide accessible education and training to the residents of the Elkin area. The Elkin Center will bring hope, opportunity and jobs and prepare citizens to use their knowledge, skills and talents.

"The center is creating success for jobs and will help to create jobs," she said. "We are truly blessed, as Rev. Johnny Blevins said in his opening prayer, to have this center, and blessed to have received the funding and support of all those who partnered with us.

"The concept behind the center is CLEAR," she said. "CLEAR meaning Center for learning, education and retraining. We look forward to providing opportunities to area residents through the college at this center."

The center has eight classrooms, two computer training labs, an industrial training area and a board room with a small kitchen suitable for catering available for rent.

"During the early stages of asking for funding, Johnsie Hudspeth and I went to John Pretti at BB&T bank and asked for funding," Hutchens said. "As everyone knows, Johnsie is no longer with us. BB&T donated money for the board room and it is named in honor of Johnsie Hudspeth, who was a great community advocate for Elkin."

Ray Hall is the coordinator for the Elkin Center with Surry Community College.

"We are very excited about opening and getting to be part of the neighborhood," Hall said. "We will be offering Certified Nursing Assistant courses, a GED (general education diploma), program, and general purpose classes. We also hope to offer continuing education classes as we grow forward. We offer career readiness certification which is a new required industry standard and through the college have already began classes with two companies in the area, which are Nonni's Foods in Yadkinville and Lytle in Hamptonvville.

"This program is one to refresh employees who have been unemployed or underemployed refresh their reading and math skills and be prepared to take on positions within the industry. Our GED program is offered to anyone 16 and older who did not complete high school. We also have an outreach coordinator, Chad Shore, who will be reaching out to the community for ideas."

"I will be visiting in the community to make residents aware of resources available through the Elkin Center," Shore said. "I'll also be doing surveys of classes needed and wanted throughout the community.

"We will also be available to meet with groups in the community to speak of the resources available that may impact their lives," Hall said.

Dr. George Sappenfield, Vice President of Corporate & Continuing Education of Surrry Community College said that it is really a tribute to the cooperation of all people working together to make this happen.

"The Town of Elkin has been completely on board all the way through this project," Sappenfield said. "You can actually feel the energy of the community in Elkin. We're very excited about everything that's happening with the new center and the opportunities it will afford the area residents. Citizens that have lost jobs, or are unemployed will now have a local source for education and retraining without having to drive to Dobson."

"With today's economy, traveling back and forth to classes in Dobson was prohibitive for some residents," Hutchens said. "Now our town residents will have their own education center. I want to express my gratitude to each and every person who had any part in making this center a reality. I am so excited I'm afraid I may have left someone out. But, I want the people of Elkin and all parties involved to know that this center is just one step forward in what we hope is an exciting future for Elkin."

Classes begin at the Elkin Center on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Anyone interested in touring the facility or obtaining information on the classes offered this semester may contact Ray Hall at 336-386-3237. or visit the Elkin Center at 1461 North Bridge Street.

Workshops will be given free of charge, through September on interviewing for jobs, resume' construction and how to fill out an application. The workshops are filled on a first come, first serve basis.