Business Briefs

Free job training offered to businesses

Ocean County College, Toms River, will offer free classes for New Jersey businesses and organizations that are able to provide 10 or more employees to complete a program.

Preapproved course options include English as a second language, PC skills, Excel, Outlook, basic communications and basic math.

This project is open to all members of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) as well as nonmembers, and the grant also applies to nonprofit organizations. Participating companies do not have to pay for any of the classes, nor file any formal paperwork with NJLWD.

Courses will be scheduled at the business or organization's convenience and can be conducted at the OCC Main Campus in Toms River, an OCC off-campus location or at the business's site of the

Employees attending classes must be paid their regular wage during those hours. All classes must end by June 1, 2010.

The job training is funded by a literacy grant from the NJLWD and is a cooperative partnership of the NJLWD, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association and the New Jersey Community College Workforce Consortium.

For more information, or to register, contact Kathy Baranowski, OCC Coordinator of Customized Training, at 732-255- 0509, or email kbaranowski@ocean.edu.

Elks Foundation to award 500 scholarships

In an effort to alleviate the financial burden of escalating college costs, the Elks Foundation has launched a Most Valuable Student Scholarship contest.

This year, the Elks will award $2.296 million to 500 students. Awards to the 18 top winners will range from $8,000 to $60,000 over four years. The remaining 482 runners-up will receive $4,000 scholarships over four years.

The scholarship is available to all high school seniors who are U.S. citizens. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. Males and females will compete separately and will be judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need.

Completed applications must be turned in to the applicant's nearest Elks Lodge no later than Nov. 2. National finalists will be required to submit a secondary application. The 500 national winners will be announced by April 1.

Contest details and applications are available at Elks lodges, local high schools and at www.elks.org.enf/scholars.