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Richland Parish, Louisiana

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.”

SHREVEPORT-MONROE, LA  ̶   North Louisiana ranks in the top three for the largest ACT Work Ready Communities (WRC) coordinated initiative in the nation. Twelve North Louisiana parishes launched their ACT WRC certification campaigns and branded this combined effort North Louisiana Ready2Work.  Two of the 12 parishes, DeSoto and Ouachita have already completed their certification requirements and have been designated an ACT Work Ready Community. The other ten parishes still working toward achieving their certification include Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Richland, Union and Webster Parishes. North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP), an Accredited Economic Development Organization, has been facilitating individual parish efforts with financial support, guidance and the coordination of a June 2019 ACT WRC Bootcamp in Ruston for five of the parishes.

As of Thursday, the three-parish certification effort went live on the ACT Work Ready Communities map. The region will have two years to meet goals related to number of certificates earned in various categories and employers supporting the initiative

This coalition of 35 organizations is working toward certifying their communities as ACT Work Ready Communities. By following the ACT system of testing and workforce development, Work Ready Communities can measure, improve the skill sets of the workforce and close the skills gaps for existing employers.