Mercer County Community College unveiled this month new community resources focused on supporting workforce development in the greater Trenton area.

The resources, shared through a new page on MCCC’s website, showcase the college’s credit and non-credit programs for workforce development. The site is a collaboration between the Division of Lifelong Learning and the Academic Affairs department.

“We want to provide a resource page to help small, local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gonzalo Perez, dean of innovation, online learning, student success and lifelong learning, said in a statement. A long-term goal is to have business with more credentialed employees and upwardly mobile workforces.

Administrators also hope the resource page will help reverse growing unemployment numbers in New Jersey by highlighting course offerings for small businesses that emphasize development through digital platforms.

MCCC President Jianping Wang noted that many new unemployment claims disproportionately affect New Jersey’s minority population.

“The college is looking to work with directly with various organizations — the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and many more — to ensure these programs are accessible to a wide audience,” Wang said in a statement.

Upcoming non-credit courses include introductions to social media marketing, Amazon Web Services, grant writing, among others. Registration is through the college’s Center for Continuing Studies. These classes will kick off during the first full week of September, with start dates running through the month of December.

Additionally, the Mercer Institute of Management and Technology Training is offering a series of two-hour virtual courses aimed at recovering from the pandemic and embracing the “new normal.”

“We have tailored many of our established programs that support nearly all areas, including technology, business, and customer service,” Perez said. “We also will make space available for students in need with reduced or free tuition.”

On the credit side, students can enroll in courses from any of the college’s three divisions: business and STEM, liberal arts and the health professions. These divisions offer a variety of opportunities for students to transfer their credits to four-year institutions, in addition to developing skills transferable to directly to the workforce.

Students also have access to the Career Services office, which can assist with everything from internship and job placement to resume building.

Most credit and non-credit courses will be offered online, with strict social distancing protocols in place for any in-person classes. To learn more about MCCC’s workforce development opportunities, visit www.mccc.edu/businesshelp.

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