It’s been a week since 936 Freightliner employees turned in their badges. After the Jan. 4 announcement, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College announced extended admissions and enrollment for its 16-week courses, which began Monday.

Craig Lamb, vice president of corporate and continuing education at RCCC, said that six former Freightliner employees have enrolled. Five of them have registered for classes.

“We didn’t expect a lot of traffic off of that, we just didn’t want to have our doors closed when they came to see us,” Lamb said.

As the extended enrollment and registration comes to an end, Lamb says he wants the other dislocated workers to know that the doors are still open.

“There are multiple opportunities,” he said.

RCCC offers four-week and eight-week classes in addition to its 16-week courses that open for registration shortly. And continuing education programs and classes are always available, Lamb said.

There are several good “career changer” options available to the former employees.

A truck driving course will begin in February. Lamb says it’s a well-paying, high-demand career that could be a good fit for many displaced workers.

“With the work history that those people have and a CDL on their hands, that would be a potent combination,” he said.

The registration deadline for this course is Jan. 20.

Many of those who lost their jobs in the mass layoff are younger than previous cut populations, Lamb says, and were working their first manufacturing job. If they choose to stay in manufacturing, Lamb says, RCCC offers a training program that will certify students as a production technician. The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute is an eight-week scholarship program that begins in February.

It is entirely possible to complete a North Carolina Manufacturing Institute certification and be placed at another job before severance pay and unemployment runs out, Lamb says.

RCCC will also be offering free help with small business planning. Other quick certification programs include Notary, Real Estate Agent and Nursing Assistant.

“We’d be glad to have them,” Lamb said.

All former Freightliner employees are qualified for funding through the N.C. Works Career Center as dislocated workers. The funding provides immediate assistance with tuition, books and supplies, Lamb says, so potential students don’t have to wait to qualify for a Pell Grant.

Dislocated workers can join an e-mail list with at www.rowancares.com that will keep them up to date on opportunities and resources. A Job and Resource fair will be held Jan. 22 at West End Plaza.