PILOT MOUNTAIN — The recent receipt of an $800,000 grant is helping the town of Pilot Mountain transform an existing building into a learning center tailored specifically to the needs of the community in this tough economy.

In May, the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded the Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative Grants to Surry Community College to assist it with the establishment of Centers for Learning, Education and Retraining in Pilot Mountain and Elkin to help address increasing unemployment and local educational access. The grant was among $2.06 million in grant money that the foundation awarded for projects in Surry County.

According to Golden LEAF, the project is expected to assist local and regional economic development efforts, making each town more desirable for new or relocating business/industry, and provide needed workforce training for unemployed and under-employed Surry County citizens.

The former Amos and Smith building of 70,000 square feet at 612 E. Main St. will be the new home of the learning center in Pilot Mountain, which officials have named the Pilot Center. A building has yet to be decided on in Elkin, an announcement is expected on July 20.

“Both the centers are targeted to reach people in those communities that may not have transportation to get to campus or to people who have been laid off, or who are looking to be retrained,” said George Sappenfield, the associate vice president of corporate and continuing education at SCC.

“We put surveys out in the community, which 150 to 200 people completed, indicating what specific classes they would take,” he continued. “Most people predominantly wanted computer classes; they were also interested in hospitality classes, basic skills classes, construction classes and automotive classes. The surveys indicated about two-thirds of those who responded were interested in later afternoon or evening classes. In Elkin, people had a strong interest in crafts, so essentially the two centers will be an extension of what we offer.”

The results of the community needs assessment survey for both Elkin and Pilot Mountain were released earlier this week.

The Pilot Mountain Survey indicated that 17 percent were interested in courses such as automotive and workforce skills. For health courses, 22 percent were interested in basic procedure and diagnostic coding, 23 percent in medical terminology and 20 percent in Certified Nursing Assistant courses. Thirty-three percent also expressed interest in culinary courses and 22 percent were interested in entrepreneurial classes. Computer classes had the highest percentage with 46 percent interested in basic computer skills. Sixty-three percent preferred evening courses.

Numbers in Elkin were nearly parallel to that of Pilot Mountain.

In Elkin, 19 percent were interested in automotive courses, 18 percent were interested in Certified Nursing Assistant courses and 16 percent in a basic procedure and diagnostic coding class. In other occupations, 17 percent expressed interest in craft apprenticeship. Computer classes also had the highest interest with 46 percent.

Sappenfield said the specific courses help to satisfy the needs of the community in a way that will drum economic development.

“It localizes the training forces for Pilot Mountain, and it will have a focal point for the community. There will be the convenience of having classes there and saving money on gas prices,” he said. “There’s always been an interest in Elkin and Pilot Mountain for classes in those communities. Although, we currently offer classes in public schools, fire departments and EMS (facilities), each of the communities has wanted a centralized facility, that’s where the Golden LEAF group came in and listed all the different projects.”

He said the creation of each learning center will also help to create some job opportunities.

“We’ll be able to hire a couple of full-time positions at each center like a central director and a counselor position,” he said.

Other benefits include offering more available core classes and alleviating space issues on the main campus.

“The programs are designed to meet the need of the area,” said Dr. Deborah Friedman, the president of Surry Community College. “We’re excited about moving forward with this.”

A blue print provided by the town of Pilot Mountain shows the renovation of the former Amos and Smith building to include a training area of 4,447 square feet, about five classrooms, several storage areas and offices, a conference room and a student common area. The plans also mark space for an agriculture center and future expansion.

The Pilot Center is one of the town’s major financial projects, along with the construction of an ABC store slated to open later this year.

Blair Knox, the town manager of Pilot Mountain, said the Pilot Center will help with the town’s economic development and about 1,200 students are expected to enroll once it opens.

Bidding for the Pilot Center’s renovations are expected to be finished by the end of the month and an award of contracts is planned for August. A little more than 150 days of construction are expected to start in September and be complete by the start of next year.

According to the town’s 2009-2010 budget report, the Pilot Center’s budget is $71,800, which includes $34,700 for contracted services, $22,800 for utilities, $6,000 for insurance and $8,300 for debt service.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.