CUMBERLAND - With jobs, family demands and other responsibilities, sometimes pursuing higher education ends up on the back burner.

But later in life, many people often wish they had attended college or followed a different career path. A fear of doing so may keep them from exploring those dreams.

A new work force training initiative led by Allegany College of Maryland could alleviate that fear and become a model for work force assessment and enhancement.

Becky Hadra, the college's director of professional development and extended learning for the Center for Continuing Education, said the initiative is geared toward nontraditional students.

Those who complete the semester-long program will receive a certificate in customer satisfaction from the American Management Association and will earn three credits from a computer literacy course.

The initiative is one of seven projects that has made the city's Community Legacy prioritized project list for fiscal 2008. The city's $1.4 million request includes $1.35 million in capital and $42,411 in operating funds.

Kathy McKenney, the city's historic planner and preservation coordinator, is responsible for the city's Community Legacy application. A 10-member steering committee, which Hadra serves on, reviews the projects and helps establish the priorities.

The work force training program, at $42,411.94, "came together very well."

"It's a perfect fit to use Community Legacy as far as we're concerned," McKenney said.

Just ahead of that request is the top priority at $123,000 for a "green" roof on the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission building that's to be constructed on Virginia Avenue.

Courtney Thomas, HRDC's executive director, said the idea for a green roof began in the initial design process and a desire of the board to be as environmentally friendly as financially possible.

Thomas, Dan Lewellen, deputy director, and other board members have visited various sites in the tri-state area. A Pittsburgh corporation is the model for the roof that not only will address storm water management, but is expected to increase energy efficiency and provide a garden like atmosphere.

The average lifespan of a regular roof is 15 years but records have shown a green roof can last 50 years.

Thomas said the green roof would cover about 3,000 square feet, only a small portion of the roof that also includes peaks. If funding also is found, the plan is to place solar panels on those peaks.

At $1.03 million, the majority of the projects remain focused on the redevelopment of the Virginia Avenue corridor.

This includes $256,250 for infrastructure improvements and $358,750 for the property compliance program, both of which have been funded previously. Code compliance looks at residential rehabilitation, commercial rehabilitation and rental property facade.

Another $205,000 is sought for the property acquisi-tion/demolition/blight removal program, and $205,000 is requested for a mixed-use development program.

McKenney said the mixed-use program is new but is similar to the Upper Story Redevelopment Program that targeted downtown. This expanded version allows property owners the flexibility to develop all levels as storefront retail and upper-story residential or commercial/office space.

The program would provide a 10-year forgivable loan up to $40,000 to develop the space.

The seventh project moves into the North Centre and Mechanic Streets Gateway Corridor Revitalization Program, where $205,000 is sought.

The program looks at commercial rehabilitation/code compliance, land acquisition and planting, and signage. McKenney said the Cumberland Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. is a partner.

Statewide, between $6 million and $7 million is available for the program's capital projects. Applications are due Oct. 2, with a spring funding announcement expected.

Community Legacy was created in fiscal 2002 to help communities develop comprehensive revitalization plans and to implement projects that are reduce sprawl and improve the community. The state's Department of Housing and Community Development administers the program.

The state determines what projects will be funded; the city has been awarded funding annually.

City officials unanimously approved the application Tuesday.

Maria Smith can be reached at msmith@times-news.com.