Tri-State in training: Robert C. Byrd Institute to present tooling seminar

TOOLING SEMINAR: A tooling seminar is scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) Huntington facility. Presented in conjunction with tool manufacturer Sandvik Coromant, the seminar will showcase newly implemented and proven technology that provides manufacturers high performance machining capabilities designed to solve their production tooling concerns.

Seating is limited and early registration is recommended. Registration deadline is Nov. 6. For additional information or to register, contact Brian Brown, senior manufacturing engineer and site manager at RCBI Huntington, at 304-781-1689 or 800-469-RCBI (7224), or send an e-mail to bbrown@rcbi.org.

STIMULUS LOANS: An informational session on the Small Business Administrations's America's Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program is planned for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Women's Business & Training Center in Charleston.

ARC loans can provide up to $35,000 of interest-free funds to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return your business to a profitable financial position. These funds are targeting viable businesses that have been in operation for two years and will assist in paying the principle and interest on existing debt. The loans are interest free and carry a 100 percent SBA guarantee.

Cost of the informational session is only $10 per person and includes all handouts and refreshments. To register, call 304-253-3145 or 800-766-4556 or register online at www.westvirginiawbc.org.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING: A workshop on government contracting is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, presented by the Women's Business & Training Center in Charleston. It's designed to provide women and minority small business owners with information to help prepare them to compete in the world of federal government contacting. This hands-on walks them through the 8(a) certification program and application process. Cost is $49 per person and includes lunch and all handouts. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 304-253-3145 or 800-766-4556 or register online at www.westvirginiawbc.org.

RETIREMENT PLANNING: An educational course titled "Retirement Planning Today" sponsored by Marshall Community and Technical College in Huntington, W.Va. is ongoing.

In this course, you can learn how to avoid the 10 biggest retirement planning mistakes. Whether your objective is to build a nest egg, protect your assets, or preserve your lifestyle throughout retirement, this course helps you plan your future with confidence.

Due to recent tax law changes, an uncertain future for Social Security and the shift toward employee-directed retirement plans, the need for sound financial strategies has never been greater. In this course you'll learn how to: create a plan to retire early, manage investment risks, use new tax laws to your advantage, make informed decisions about your company retirement plan, and adjust your estate plan to function properly under the new laws.

This course includes a 235-page illustrated textbook. Class sizes are limited. The first course has already been completed, but Course Two will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10.

To register, contact the college at 304-399-1281.

LIFE SKILLS TRAINING: Goodwill Industries, in partnership with the Weed and Seed Program at Barnett Center, is offering ongoing free classes on a variety of skills needed to help navigate life. The classes will include information on how to search and apply for a job, how to manage your money, where to find community resources, and tips on housekeeping, maintaining good health and more.

Classes are offered each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon and on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Any adult 18 or older may enroll for the classes at the Barnett Center, 1524 10th Ave. in Huntington or by contacting the Life Skills Trainer and asking for Staci Green at 304-523-7461 or sgreen@goodwillhunting.org. Enrollment is ongoing.

HOMEBUYER EDUCATION: Goodwill Industries' Consumer Credit Counseling Service is offering homebuyer education classes.

Classes will be Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, as long as there are at least three registrants signed up for each class. The seminars will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the conference room of Goodwill's offices at 1102 Memorial Blvd. in Huntington.

The class will cover assessing your homebuyer readiness, budgeting and credit, the value of homebuyer inspections, financing, mortgage instruments and loan closings, as well as keeping proper records for home maintenance.

The class fee is based on a sliding scale, and participants must bring proof of income to the class.

For more information or to discuss fees, call Michelle Hightower, Certified Housing Counselor and Homebuyer Educator at Goodwill's Consumer Credit Counseling Service 304-522-4321, Ext. No. 35 or e-mail her at mhightower @goodwillhunting.org.

If your organization has a seminar or training class you would like listed in this column, please send it to Jean Tarbett Hardiman. Reach her by e-mail at jeant@herald-dispatch.com, send faxes to 304-526-2857 or send mail to The Herald-Dispatch, P.O. Box 2017, Huntington, WV 25720.