Young adult Detroiters can hone their skills on IBM or Apple computers, learn to surf the Internet and receive job placement assistance - all while getting paid to do so, thanks to a training program sponsored by Wayne State University's Word Processing Training Center.

Participants of the program must be low income, have a high school diploma or GED, and be 19-21 and a Detroit resident. The 13-week program will pay participants up to $100 per week, plus $40 for transportation and meals, giving them the potential to earn a total of $1,820 if they complete the program.

"Our program uses performance-based incentives to motivate students," said Barbara Simmons, assistant director of the Word Processing Training Center.

Those residents interested in enrolling in the free training program can register by calling the Word Processing Training Center at (313) 964-4807or TDD 1-800-649-3777. The center is located at 2727 Second Avenue Suite122. Classes for the training program begin Nov. 11. The classes run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those enrolled in the classes will be taught word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, networking, the Internet and how to improve their typing skills.

This training program is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Career Development and the City of Detroit Employment and Training Department. A Michigan Works! Agency.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.