With the unemployment rate in Marion County at a high of almost 13 percent, some residents have been forced to consider going back to school for additional training.

Not everyone can afford that expense, however.

If a special stimulus grant is approved for two million dollars, Workforce Connection officials say they will be able to re-train over 600 residents of West Ocala for the next two years.

The training they receive will allow them to work a variety of green jobs such as green construction, sustainable agriculture, and even bio-fuels.

Jerone Gamble, the Executive manager of continuing education at Central Florida Community College says,

"I think that we have to look down the road because there are still some things that we have to do to help make sure that after the educational portion of the training is over, that we actually can place them in jobs."

Workforce Connection officials say they've already started organizing a job fair and talking to businesses about hiring the trainees.

Currently almost 40 residents of West Ocala are participating in a pilot program.

That program will be complete in November.