The job outlook is not so good for our area. Estimates released last week indicate that SC's unemployment rate will reach 14% by next summer, which is double the present (already too high!) jobless rate.

At any rate, here are some good job resource sites for the SC area:

Federal jobs - http://www.usajobs.gov/

State of SC jobs (may have hiring freezes in some departments) - http://tinyurl.com/3nwgkr

SC County jobs - (ditto freezes)

SC Job Link - (SC Emp. Security Commission listing) https://www.scjoblink.org/ada/

SC Library jobs - (many jobs only require high school diploma) - http://tinyurl.com/6kn95w

SCIway.net jobs - (by location & type of employer) http://www.sciway.net/jobs/

SC Job Market.com - http://www.scjobmarket.com/jobs.asp

Don't forget your local papers' websites, including freebie things like the Charleston City Paper.

Also...DO NOT fall for the phone calls and mail pieces going around saying that "Government rules for grants have changed! Press 1 to get your share of free money!" Matthew Lesko and others are making money reselling information that is freely available from the US Government (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, http://www.cfda. gov/), but they aren't telling you that most government grants are for nonprofit organizations, have enormous amounts of paperwork & are impossibly competitive. Sadly, there is no such thing as a grant to pay your bills or start a business!

Finally, reputible sources of financial help ...

--Credit card debt, bankruptcy, & foreclosure assistance: Family Services = http://www.familyserviceschassc.com/

--Local (Chas) Small Business assistance organizations = http://www.charlestonsmallbusiness.org