News


Podcast: Re-Booting Economic and Workforce Development in 2021 February 02, 2021

Keeping the future in mind is a necessary function for persisting through disaster recovery. As regions continue to overcome the pandemic, there is a balance in preparing for future opportunities and obstacles at the same time. Guests and contributors for episode 25 features Chad Chancellor, Co-Founder and CEO of the Next Move Group; Mark Arenda of Site Selection Magazine; and Brenda Latanza, Preble County (OH) Development Partnership. 

People will power New Mexicos economic recovery February 02, 2021

The New Mexico Chamber of Commerce launched into 2021 with a business-led, strategic plan for New Mexico’s economic recovery. The plan includes support for implementing Work Ready Communities and other WorkKeys solutions statewide.

MSSC Collaborates with ACT for WorkKeys Profile on Supply Chain Automation February 01, 2021

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and ACT recognize the benefits to stakeholders of “stacking” MSSC certification credentials upon ACT’s WorkKeys Assessments, specifically the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), as the “foundation” for MSSC’s Certified Technician– Supply Chain Automation (CT-SCA) for Equipment Maintenance, Certified Forklift Technician (CFT), Certified Production Technician (CPT), Certified Logistics Associate (CLA), and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) credentialing programs. The results of the current project and review of its findings can help guide the selection of students into the CT-SCA Equipment Maintenance program and encourage skill development for those applicants whose skills currently do not match the recommendations for entry.

2021 Regional Workforce Rankings of States and Regions Published by Site Selection Magazine February 01, 2021

Regional rankings here are meant to provide some insight into which states are cultivating a workforce development culture relative to others in their geography. All states are awarded points according to their national rank in five objective measures of workforce-related resources: (1) CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business 2019, Workforce and Education sub-rankings; (2) Forbes’ 2019 Best States for Business Labor Supply sub-ranking; (3) U.S. News’ 2019 Best States for Education rankings; (4) ACT National Career Readiness Certificates for 2020; and (5) the most recent workforce preparation and development component of the State Economic Development Program Expenditures Database from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The states are then ranked within their region based on their total points.

Ignite Emporia 2021 Strategic Plan Integrates Work Ready Communities February 01, 2021

Ignite Emporia has a lot of work planned as leaders look ahead to 2021. Director Rob Gilligan says last year was a foundational year for the agency despite the disruptive presence of coronavirus. Ignite Emporia moved forward with the ACT (A-C-T) WorkKeys program, which measure the basic skills required for workplace success. Ignite also conducted an extensive housing study with the help of Simmons Pet Food. Next to WRC and housing, remaining priorities in 2021 center around child care availability as a critical workforce factor.

Gov. Parson Endorses WorkKeys and Work Ready Communities January 27, 2021

Governor Mike Parson delivered Missouri's State of the State address Wednesday afternoon. The speech included Parson's support for all 114 Missouri counties to reach their WRC certification by the end of his term. For this year, the governor expressed a goal to offer WorkKeys to 12 thousand high schoolers in the Show-Me State.  

WRC Aligns Education and Workforce Partnerships in Lafourche Parish January 26, 2021

Lafourche Parish has begun the process to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This process was initialized by Parish President Archie Chaisson and Assessor Wendy Thibodeaux who share a common vision to retain and attract business and industry with local talent. This certification will broaden the Parish’s ability to develop a strong workforce pipeline, desirable to employers and current and future citizens.

Richard-Beacon News: Richland Certified as Work Ready January 14, 2021

Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce director Scott Franklin signed the certification papers Jan. 7, completing a two-year long cooperative effort with Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes to build and improve the area’s workforce. 

“I’m most proud that this project, which will create more employment opportunities for our children, cost the taxpayers absolutely nothing,” Franklin said. “Good things sometimes simply require initiative and willingness to volunteer.”

Ask the Expert: How does corrections/reentry strengthen the workforce ecosystem? January 13, 2021

Tammy Green, Director of Workforce and IT Innovation at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, discusses the important role that formerly incarcerated individuals can play in the workforce development ecosystem. Learn more at www.act.org/workforce

State of the States Updated for 2021 January 07, 2021

Building our readers’ knowledge and capabilities is the purpose of State of the States 2021, Site Selection’s annual compendium of data that matter to global corporate location decision-makers. This edition includes the sixth annual installment of Rankings That Matter, where the six-point scoreboard features the WorkKeys NCRC as the preferred measure for workforce quality.  Other criteria include rankings on tax climate, higher education R&D, workers compensation, industrial electric power costs, and state fiscal health.