The motto of the Continuing Education Division at FTCC is “life-long learning.” In the Business Services Area, the staff and faculty strive to meet the various training needs and interests of our business and industry customers, as well as the general public.

FTCC’s Small Business Center is designed to assist prospective small business owners with the knowledge and resources they need to start a business. Free weekly seminars are presented by business professionals from around the state. In addition, small business counseling sessions are available to clients at no charge.

Special events, such as the Small Business Extravaganza (May 23-25) and Home-Based Business Expo (May 26), provide an excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge while networking with other small-business owners.

FTCC’s Small Business Center is co-sponsoring a Business Plan Competition with nine eastern North Carolina counties, which is intended to stimulate and assist with new startup or expanding businesses. Monetary awards of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 will be presented to the winners from the North Carolina Rural Center grant. The deadline to present your business plan is April 29. Don’t delay — start writing your plan today! For more information, call Tamara Bryant at 678-8462.

Since 1992, FTCC has partnered with the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce to offer the nationally recognized American Management Association’s Certifi cate in Management Program. This 126-hour supervisory training program allows students to design their own curriculum, by selecting six management-related courses of their choice. Upon successful completion of the six courses, students earn the Certifi cate in Management and are recognized at the monthly Chamber of Commerce Coffee Club Meeting.

Evening classes meet at the Center for Business and Industry. AMA inhouse training is also available, and both the Public Works Commission and the Cumberland County Schools System have utilized this valuable training program as a means of professional development for their employees. For more information, call 678-8210.

In order to meet the preemployment training needs of our community, the Business Services Area offers more than 300 courses each year. Computer-education classes and medical-related classes are popular choices, as well as specifi c job training to become a bank teller, notary public, manicurist, esthetician or barber (coming summer 2011). We also develop customized training programs for local business and industry and offer required certifi cation classes in various fi elds. For more information, call Kimberly Allen at 678-0033.

It’s time to get down to business: the business of education! We hope you will take advantage of the many training opportunities available through the Business Services area at FTCC!

PHOTO: FTCC’s Continuing Education has a lot to offer the community from new-business counseling to computer training and even training new barbers.