Telegraph photo by GRACE PECCI Nashua’s Adult Learning Center has been recognized as one of 10 companies honored by Business New Hampshire Magazine as 2019 Businesses of the Year. The center serves more than 3,000 individuals each year and provides academic skills, job training and support services needed for adults and young adults to achieve more productive lives for themselves and their children.

NASHUA – Nashua’s Adult Learning Center has been recognized as one of 10 companies honored by Business New Hampshire Magazine as 2019 Businesses of the Year.

As noted in the nonprofit’s mission statement, the center is designed to provide the academic skills, job training and support services needed for adults and young adults to achieve more productive lives for themselves and their children.

Since 1972, the center has been doing just that. It now serves more than 3,000 individuals each year. There are two facilities, Lake Street and Arlington Street, with a satellite program in Milford. There are before and after school programs at 22 area elementary schools.

The other programs offered by the adult learning program include high school equivalency testing and

preparation, English as a second language, adult learner services, computer-medical-accounting services, community education, college preparation classes, before and after school programs, summer programs and an alternative high school.

The center was also the only Nashua organization to receive the 2019 Business of the Year recognition.

Center Executive Director Carol Baldwin attributes the success to two things: “Our people and the people we serve.”

“When I say our people, our staff, they’re amazing,” Baldwin said. “Our staff works well together and really like each other. One of the things I’ve noticed, is that all the best ideas always come from employees. They come up with awesome ideas.”

Two of the programs offered by the center, the Xploration program and the medical coding program, were employee ideas, Baldwin said.

“And then the clients that we serve are really amazing,” Baldwin continued.

“I see people that do this while they’re raising a family and some of them are juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. It’s pretty inspiring. It’s what we like to see,” she added.

Baldwin said it is important to offer different classes that address different needs because not everyone takes the same path.

“There are a lot of different paths, but I think the important thing is to just keep taking that next step forward just, keep working at it,” she said.

Baldwin believes anybody can learn at any age.

“I think you should always be learning,” Baldwin said. “There are day workshops; maybe you take a series of classes and get credentialed; keep your skills sharp.”

“You think about the great organizations that exist throughout the state, and to be recognized for that, I thought was really neat,” Baldwin said.

In addition, the center was recently recognized as Nonprofit of the Year from the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce at the 16th annual Eminence Awards.

Business of the Year awards will be presented during a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 30 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Hotel in Manchester. Tickets for the luncheon are $65 per person or $600 for a table of 10. To register, visit www.businessnhmagazine.com/events/business-of-the-year-2019.

Other winners for 2019 Businesses of the Year include:

Vested for Growth in Concord for Business Assistance Organization, Eversource in Manchester for Business Services, Warrenstreet Architects in Concord for Construction/Engineering, Riverbend Community Mental Health in Concord for Nonprofit, Clark Insurance in Manchester for Financial Services/Insurance, Cornerstone VNA in Rochester for Health Care, The Red Arrow in Manchester for Hospitality/Tourism, W.S Badger Company in Gilsum for Manufacturing/Technology and CCA Global Partners in Manchester for Retail/Wholesale.

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