The flier in Jonathon Jones' mailbox was addressed to his wife, but Jones knew it was an opportunity meant for him.

He called the number on the flier, and talked to Michele Jozwik at Casper College about whether he qualified for the Employment and Training for Self-Sufficiency Program.

"Now I'm standing here painting," Jones said, as he moved a roller up and down a basement wall.

Jones is one of two men receiving free commercial painting training through Casper College and the self-sufficiency program.

To qualify for the program, Jones and Todd Kukus, the second trainee, met certain income guidelines and are parents of children under 18.

The men will graduate from the training on June 13.

"Our goal for the program is to place them in employment where they can make higher wages than they are currently," said Jozwik, case manager for Jones and Kukus. "It's a good opportunity for people who really want to make positive changes in their life."

The training program is funded through the state of Wyoming. Local vendors come to the training sessions and often hire the students. Pro Paint and Fine Finishes, both local companies, have helped with the painting instruction.

Casper College offers a variety of training, all of which include classes on skills such as budgeting and being successful after the program.

"Besides teaching them painting skills," Jozwik said, "we teach them skills for the real world."

Kukus was looking for employment after losing his job when he came heard about the training through Life Steps.

The training provided the answer for Kukus' question about finding a new line of work.

"I really didn't know what I was going to do," he said. "I'm just glad I found this class. It's nice to be working with the fellows I'm working with."

The two men are repainting the basement of a building on the Life Steps Campus. The basement floor is being remodeled into additional transitional housing, said Robin Mundell, the city's housing and community development manager.

"We truly appreciate the work they are doing," Mundell said. "This is a huge start to a much longer term vision we have."

Mundell said the remodel should be done by the end of summer, and will provide a kitchen, two sleeping rooms and a living room for families.

For Jones, the training has provided a chance to "upgrade" his own family's current living situation. The wages between his job at Old Chicago and his wife's work just aren't enough to live a good life, Jones said.

Jones has a 19-month old son and another baby on the way. His ultimate goal is to run his own painting business and maybe a program for troubled youth.

He stopped working for a minute to explain how life is sometimes like a freshly painted wall.

"If your life is kind of a bad paint job, you can paint it over, do a little work," Jones said. "You can always start from the outside."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.

Interested in the program?

Michele Jozwik at Casper College can answer any questions about becoming involved with the Employment and Training for Self-Sufficiency Program. She can be reached at (307) 268-3313.