Since being laid off from his job more than a year ago, David Remick has had nothing but time. The 38-year-old used those spare months to ponder his future.

Remick, who had worked for a Kansas City blueprint company as a printer, knew that field no longer offered him a future. Printing companies nationwide are being bought out by large corporations who have a knack for finding ways to improve efficiency and cut the work force. They also are adept at outsourcing work to other countries, Remick said.

He considered earning a business degree, which could be his ticket to a white-collar job in corporate finance. But, the south Kansas City man's conscience intervened.

"Being unemployed for so long afforded me the chance to reflect on my role in society," Remick said of his eventual career choice in nursing. The healthcare profession, he decided, gives him the opportunity to help others. "Corporate banking is more the opposite of that," he added.

Remick is not alone. He joins the ranks of millions of Americans who've fallen victim to unemployment in a spiraling economy. He's also not alone in Kansas City, either. Remick and many others here have chosen a new career path with the help of the Metropolitan Community Colleges. And, their numbers are set to grow. The college launched the Institute for Workforce Innovation this past spring, with a plan to help displaced workers find their way back to employment.

The program focuses on helping workers achieve employment in the areas of health care, information technology and green industries. The program first determines the demand by connecting with local employers who need workers, such as the growing Cerner Corporation, a Kansas City company that acts as a supplier of healthcare information technology. So far, such meetings have identified new job opportunities while also revealing some apprehension among employers.

"There has to be a certain level of faith...signs (of economic recovery) before companies will invest in infrastructure and new employees," Boyd said.

MCC has funded the new program through several sources. The college system, with campuses in Independence, Lee's Summit, Midtown and North of the river, received federal stimulus money aimed at getting America back to work while improving the environment through green technology. In addition, college officials have used a $300,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development, said Margaret Boyd, the program's director. Last week, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced a $2.2 million grant to MCC for its Training for Tomorrow initiative, aimed at expanding training programs such as the Institute for Workforce Innovation.

The institute offers many short-term certification programs. During the past year, about 10,000 people have taken advantage of the college's workforce development programs, Boyd said. Some certification programs take as long as two years to complete. Others, such as Remick's Certified Nursing Assistant, can be earned in two months. Remick said he'll soon take state board exams and, if he passes, will be employable immediately. He later plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which comes with more responsibility for a higher salary.

Animal health is another growing field targeted by the institute. The field offers a variety of jobs from veterinarian assistants to lab scientists and clinical assistants who do everything from testing animals for diseases to developing drugs, treats and food.

"The pet care industry at large is huge," Boyd said. "People spend a lot of money on their pets."

The statewide grant, announced by the governor's office, will help MCC officials expand its animal health curriculum to include online veterinary front office staff as well as those who deal directly with animals.

MCC officials have identified construction workers as another group needing employment help. The stagnant housing market has left few new construction jobs. In addition, those working in related fields, such as housing inspectors and pipefitters, also have been affected by the housing crisis.

One good fit for laid-off construction workers is re-training them in the growing de-construction field. Workers are trained to identify and find new homes for materials from buildings that are demolished, or remodeled, said Clare Roberts, who leads MCC's Program for Continuing Professional Education. Fourteen students are enrolled in a class that began this past Monday. They are being trained to identify hazardous materials, such as lead and asbestos and are learning environmentally-safe methods of disposal. Many will work as supervisors at de-construction sites.

She said one aspect of the class is hands-on training, in which students will work as volunteers in tearing down a house. The program donates used construction materials to Habitat for Humanity's Restore program, which reuses bathroom fixtures such as sinks and tubs, bricks, doors and cabinets. Metals can be re-used or sold. Wood that can't be used in whole can be made into wood chips, where it can be used in a different capacity, Roberts said.

The institute has transformed some of the faces of those utilizing community colleges, Boyd said. While some traditional students still use the colleges as a launching ground for four-year degrees, other, mostly older students are using the institute to re-build their lives. MCC officials agreed that being a part of that process is rewarding.

"What I've seen is how hard it is on people who lose a job," Roberts said. "In the end, we want to have every chance of connecting these people with jobs."