All eyes were on the large screen, where creation of letterhead stationery was in the works.

The arrow pointed to the cursor, and, with a click of the computer mouse, an image appeared.

&uot;There; now that’s my choice of an illustration for the stationery,&uot; said instructor Liz Mackey. &uot;I like it because it’s very professional, not like some of them which are very cartoonish.&uot;

Mackey, a training specialist in the Workforce Development Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, led the class through steps slowly and methodically &045;&045; teaching them new computer skills as part of the Train to Gain program sponsored by the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority Technology Alliance Council.

The program, still in its start-up stage, seeks to provide free classes for Natchez-area workers who want to learn or upgrade skills that will give them better employment opportunities.

The group working with Mackey earlier this week neared completion of the first portion of the class. Lashonda Lee, one of the students, said she has upgraded her skills and hopes it will help her to get a more sophisticated office job.

&uot;I knew something about computers, but these classes have been more advanced. And now my typing is up to 45 words per minute,&uot; Lee said. &uot;I’d like to get a good office job, maybe in a call center or maybe in customer service.&uot;

Mackey said she came to work with the program not knowing what to expect. Classes were held in the Co-Lin mobile lab, which was parked at the Natchez Convention Center.

As students worked at the laptop computers provided by the lab, Mackey encouraged them while complimenting them on their efforts.

&uot;This group just gelled,&uot; she said. &uot;It has been rewarding for me as an instructor, but for them it has been excellent. They have gained friends, gained skills and gained confidence.&uot;

The idea for the technology alliance and the classes was generated by the EDA success in bringing a call center to Natchez. The classes are meant to demonstrate willingness of the local workforce to meet new standards of technology training.

Terry Bernard looked intently at the screen of his laptop, following instruction, pulling a logo onto the business stationery he was creating.

&uot;I really hadn’t had much typing,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m getting into the basics of computers now, learning formats and how to do headings. Every step is preparing me for the future.&uot;

Bernard said he hopes the classes under way now will lead to more computer classes in the future. &uot;I’d like to become a computer tech,&uot; he said.

Emily Felter said she did not know what to expect when she enrolled and was accepted into the Train to Gain program. &uot;I’ve enjoyed having someone like Ms. Mackey sit down with us and teach us,&uot; she said. &uot;I want to get a job working in a medical office or maybe some other kind of office.’

Mackey said the class has attained fundamental levels of computer skills, and that was the aim of the program.

Deloris Ford, another student, said she has learned in a short few weeks what many others do in an entire semester.

That has been through hard work and concentration on the task, Mackey said. &uot;This is a hard-working, dedicated group. They have stayed with it. And that’s what is important to work force training.&uot;

The technology alliance, in addition to the EDA and Co-Lin, includes representatives from Alcorn State University, Alcoa, Entergy, Britton & Koontz First National Bank, the WIN job center of the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, the Mississippi Technology Alliance and the Natchez-Adams County School District.

More information about the program is available by calling Winnie Kaiser, director of community development, at the EDA, (601) 445-0288.