Pender County residents will soon be able to take auto body repair classes closer to home.

Beginning in January, Cape Fear Community College will offer four different courses in collision repair and auto body refinishing at the Pender County Schools’ bus garage facility in Burgaw.

The college currently runs day and evening classes in auto body repair at its downtown Wilmington campus.

Collision repair and refinishing is “one of those programs that always has strong enrollment,” said David Hardin, CFCC spokesman. “Wilmington is a good market for car repair. We wanted to extend the program to Pender County, which has been offering high school classes in the bus garage facility. We’re expanding that class and opening it up to adults.”

Classes will be taught five days a week, beginning Jan. 4.

Courses include painting and refinishing, nonstructural damage repair, structural damage repair, and MIG welding. The program is designed to train students in the use of equipment and materials of the auto body repair trade.

After studying automobile body construction and repair techniques, students will perform hands-on repairs. Program graduates should qualify for entry-level employment opportunities in the automotive body and refinishing industry, Hardin said.

For more information on the program, call 259-0154 or click here.

The final day to register is Jan. 2, 2013.