MISENHEIMER ó Stanly County has been selected as one of six sites in North Carolina, California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to receive an AMVETS Career Center grant. The center will be the first of what is hoped to be many in North Carolina. In Ohio, where the program originated, there are 61 centers.
It will be headquartered on the main campus of Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer.
The center is a coalition of Albemarle AMVETS Post 910, Bank of Stanly, Pfeiffer University and the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce to fill resource gaps by complementing, enhancing and supporting the countyís Employment Security Commission, Veterans Services Office and other organizations.
Mike Miller, president of Pfeiffer University, said, ěPfeiffer University is proud to have the first North Caroline AMVETS Career Center located on our main campus, and we look forward to working with our partners in making a difference for our veterans as they pursue employment and career opportunities.î
Bill Lawhon, senior vice president for the Bank of Stanly, echoed these same sentiments when he said, ěWeíre indeed fortunate to have Stanly County as the site for the first North Carolina AMVETS Career Center. I canít think of a better way for us to support our friends and neighbors who have sacrificed to protect our freedom.î
The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 7 on the main campus of Pfeiffer University. Tom Ramseur, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce CEO, said, ěThis date couldnít be more appropriate, especially since it will be on the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.î
Last May, the Chamber of Commerce received an e-mail from, Elsie Knoots, executive secretary for the AMVETS Department of North Carolina, announcing the Call of Duty Endowment Career Center grant.
Ramseur asked Charles Cosgrove, the chamberís Veterans Services representative, to inquire into the eligibility of the chamberís Veterans Outreach Program for the endowment. It qualified. Cosgrove moved forward with the grant application, culminating with a memorandum of understanding between AMVETS National Headquarters and Pfeiffer University in August.
AMVETS Career Centers were conceived nearly a decade ago in Ohio to fill resource gaps in helping veterans remain competitive in the job market. The concept came from the Marine Corps fireman brigades of the Korean Conflict. These units were shifted from place to place to seal openings created by the enemy.
When Activisionís Call of Duty Endowment heard of Ohioís successes they selected AMVETS for a $100,000 grant to establish six new Magnet Centers across the United States. During his address at the annual state conference in Salisbury on Oct. 8, the State Department Commander Lacy Shepherd told the membership, ěI was elated to hear that North Carolina was selected as a grant recipient and particularly pleased to hear that Pfeiffer University would spearhead our stateís career centers program.î
The centers offer free Internet access, online courses, through MindLeaders Inc., writing skill development, and networking based on individual needs and the economic environment.