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EDEN — When Eden leaders began brainstorming ways to help their unemployed residents, they wanted the benefits to be multiple.

They envisioned a place where the jobless could not only take courses, but also get interviewing skills and apply for jobs. But they also wanted a place where area industries could send their employees to get additional training.

What resulted was a job resource center that will open in Kingsway Plaza at the end of this month.

City Councilman Jim Burnette has high hopes for the center and the role it will play in preparing people to return to work.

“We’re trying to do things to make our community better, not only for now, but for the years to come, as well,” said Burnette, who has helped spearhead the project.

Eden is partnering with Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Rockingham Community College and phone service provider CenturyLink on the job resource center, tentatively scheduled to open Oct. 31.

It’s not a new concept. Goodwill operates a center in Reidsville, which Eden leaders researched while pondering one for their city. Burnette said he saw statistics that said the center served more than 3,500 people last year.

“It certainly has met and exceeded all expectations since we opened it,” said Chris Gorham, Goodwill’s marketing director.

Goodwill also operates resource centers in Greensboro and Asheboro.

Gorham said partnering with Eden to open a second job resource center in Rockingham County is in line with Goodwill’s mission, which is to offer career development and job opportunities to people who need them.

Rockingham County had an 11.9 percent unemployment rate in August, up from 11.6 percent in August 2010.

“The one thing that we do as an organization is we consistently and actively assess where we are, where the community is and how might we be better able to meet the needs of the community,” Gorham said.

Eden residents will be able to take GED, English- as-a-Second Language and computer classes, as well as courses that will help them with resume writing and career development.

At the same time, they can use the center’s computers to search and apply for jobs.

The city of Eden will handle the costs of rent and renovating the location for two years; afterwards, Goodwill will take over the center, Burnette said.

He said Eden will probably spend about $140,000 over the two-year period on the project.

Rockingham Community College instructors will teach the courses, and CenturyLink is providing telephone and Internet service free of charge for two years, Burnette said.

Mike Dougherty, Eden’s director of economic development, said area companies are also interested in the new center.

“(Apparel manufacturer) Gildan has expressed interest in having their people receive training from the center, and they were a big supporter of it,” Dougherty said.

He said the effort illustrates how people can collaborate for the good of the city’s residents.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 373-7080 or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com