DOBSON— Two education centers tailored to fit the needs of those wanting to make a living in Surry County’s weak economy are expected to open their doors in January, and Surry Community College Board of Trustees got a glimpse of what to expect Monday night.

Dr. George Sappenfield, the vice president of corporate and continuing education, presented the board with updates about Centers for Learning, Education and Retraining in Pilot Mountain and Elkin. The purpose of the education centers, which are funded by Golden LEAF grants, is to serve as satellite campuses for Surry Community College.

Golden LEAF awarded $800,000 earlier this year to develop the campuses to assist with local and regional economic development efforts. Each campus will offer courses to fit the needs of students in the area and provide workforce training for those unemployed and under-employed in Surry County.

The centers would offer JobNow, a program sponsored through a federal stimulus for education. The program works under 12-6, which means 12 careers that are needed in a area are identified, and students develop skills for them through training. The 6 indicates the design of the curriculum, and that students will be retrained or trained in 6 months so they can start working.

“Golden LEAF has given us grants to staff and provide education opportunities through the Pilot Center and Elkin,” Sappenfield told the board. Pilot Mountain’s satellite campus has already been dubbed the Pilot Center.

Sappenfield said Elkin was slightly behind in its efforts because it was still searching for a building to serve as the campus. Pilot Mountain is utilizing the former Amos and Smith building, which is already home to the farmer’s market and Head Hunters, a hair salon.

He said Elkin plans the old Food Lion grocery store building on Bridge Street and the corner of Hwy 268 as its campus.

“Elkin’s project was a little behind, (the town) is negotiating terms for the building,” he said.

He said additional grant funding is being sought for both centers in order to complete renovations, operational expenses and educational programs.

A blue print of the Pilot Center includes a training area of 4,447 square feet, about five classrooms, several storage areas and offices, a GED learning center, a conference room, agriculture center and a student common area. The plans also mark space for an agriculture center and future expansion of about 8,000 feet.

Sappenfield said the agriculture program is similar to a farmers co-op, and will allow farmers to bring their produced to be packaged and redistributed to local schools, businesses and restaurants.

He also mentioned that the open front area of the building with wooded floors and large windows could be a “teaching restaurant” that is part of a culinary program.

“We’ve had a lot of calls from people wanting to do something in culinary,” he said, adding additional grant money would be sought for the culinary kitchen.

“Hopefully, we’ll know in September about the grant,” he said.

The board also discussed a request for the college to host a music festival in spring 2010. The festival would be a Surry County old time fiddler’s convention in March, and all the funds would go to the viticulture project.

Sappenfield said such a music festival would help the college to “expand the use of the campus.”

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