From the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

Ever had a desire to switch careers but haven’t found the right opportunity? Do retraining opportunities that take two or more years require more time than you can afford? The Job Market can help.

This winter, the Job Market and College of the Redwoods, will offer three short-term trainings to help people quickly transition to regional, in-demand jobs. These workshops are intensive, eight- to nine-week vocational trainings that provide the basic knowledge and skill to enter a new career field.

Workshops provide essential industry or college certifications and concrete hands-on experience. In addition, all will offer the opportunity to work with the Small Business Development Center for students interested in starting their own business.

Through the Employment and Training Division of the Department of Health & Human Services, scholarships are available for qualifying participants age 16 and older who are not currently in school.

Maintenance and Construction: Workshop runs Feb. 1 – March 15. Scholarship deadline is Jan. 9. One of the fastest growing industries, with an estimated 250 annual job openings locally, maintenance and construction work can pay a livable wage. This training provides a 10-hour OSHA certification and both lecture and hands-on training. Class includes hand and power tool use, home energy efficiency, rough and finishing carpentry, installation of doors windows and fasteners, wall repair and professional painting skills. It also includes basic plumbing, electrical and heating systems. The course is designed to cover the essential skills to secure a building construction or maintenance job.

Landscaping for the 21st Century: Workshop runs Feb. 1 – March 21. Scholarship deadline is Jan. 19.This training prepares participants for these jobs with instruction in basic plant identification and care, drainage and sprinkler systems, maintenance, care and use of equipment, beginning design and layout consideration, introduction to Xeriscaping and water conservation techniques. The landscaping field provides 180 local jobs annually. Joining an existing company or striking out on your own will be a real option at the end of this training.

Intermediate Bookkeeping: Workshop runs Feb. 8 – April 11. Scholarship deadline is Jan. 19. This training is for people who have completed the Beginning Bookkeeping training, or who have some previous experience and would like to improve their skills. It will cover payroll with benefits, methods for company asset and basic inventory tracking, and handling monthly, quarterly and year-end taxes and employee reports, while applying this new knowledge in QuickBooks. With an estimated 105 annual job openings in this field, this training will ensure participants have that competitive edge for today’s job market.

Call the Job Market for financial assistance or more information at 707-441-5627 or 800-242-1353, or go to their website at www.thejobmarket.org.

For additional course details or to register for classes, call College of the Redwoods Community Education at 707-476-4500, or visithttp://www.redwoods.edu/Departments/Community-Ed/business.asp.