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Shelby County, Tennessee

Employer-Driven Universities Offer Innovative Solutions for Adult Learners (Podcast) June 24, 2024

In Episode 49 of Ready for Work, we continue our series of FRED Talks from the ACT Workforce Summit. Tracy Robinson from the University of Memphis shares her experience working with adult learners and the challenges they face in balancing education with other life responsibilities. The University of Memphis has made significant changes to accommodate adult learners, just in time for employer giant FedEx to seek the university’s help. It’s a successful model that the University replicated with the City of Memphis, a regional hospital chain, and Nike, among others.

Flexibility Is Key in the Workforce - Video Blog with Joe T. Wood February 29, 2024

Joe T. Wood, special projects coordinator at Hardeman County Schools in Tennessee, sees opportunity amid what he calls the "fourth industrial revolution." He spoke with ACT at the 2023 Workforce Summit about how skills-based hiring addresses changing workforce demands.

As Joe explains, skills-based hiring shifts the focus to employers, offering a more deliberate and transparent approach to assessing essential skills. He also gives insight into the need for a more flexible and responsive approach to career readiness to address the reality that “every kid’s going to have a career.”

Reflecting on obstacles and opportunities, Joe underscores the importance of rethinking traditional models to prepare students for diverse career pathways.

Hear all of Joe’s valuable insights in the video.

Memphis Region Celebrates Shelby County WRC Achievement September 29, 2023

Shelby County today announced that it has met all criteria to become a certified ACT® Work Ready Community. This achievement caps an ACT Work Ready Community Boot Camp process and begins a two-year growth and maintenance phase to retain certification. Shelby joins other counties in Southwest Tennessee and explosive growth anticipated for the region.

Workforce programs helps domestic abuse survivors seek career pathways April 07, 2021

A new program aims to take domestic violence survivors from unemployed or underemployed to a career pathway in 60 days. Project E.A.T. stands for Project Earn Assistance Training to improve the lives of survivors through job training and education.

Delta Regional Authority Awards Grants for Economic Recovery November 30, 2020

Delta Regional Authority announce awards for the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) initiative to support workforce training and education in rural communities.  ACT congratulates the grantees in their awards and applauds their innovative solutions.

  • Southeast Arkansas College, $130k:  Establish certificate program for Supply Chain Technology; train 45 workers
  • Restore Hope, Little Rock, AR, $130k:  Recovery-to-Work program in metal fabrication sector for individuals affected by substance abuse disorder; 16 workers
  • Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation, Portageville, MO, $150k:  Agri-biz work-based learning; train 50 workers
  • Missouri State University, West Plains, MO, $95k:  Robotics training; 50-75 workers
  • ProGeny Place, Memphis, TN, $102k:  Food-based manufacturing and distribution certificates for victims of domestic violence; 20 workers
  • Rural Health Association, Decaturville, TN, $149k:  Pre-apprenticeships for nuring aids and assistants; 500 workers
  • theCO, Jackson, TN, $77k:  Dev Catalyst Alumni Program in computer science, web development, and data management; 1,800 workers
  • Griot Arts, Clarksdale, MS, $127k:  Internship-to-Job Pipeline; 35 workers
  • Research Park Corporation, Baton Rouge, LA, $150k:  Expands Apprenti Louisiana to 57 parishes; 48 workers
  • Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, $150k:  Boost cybersecurity knowledge to re-employ workers displaced in cybersecurity/cyberdefense
  • University of Holy Cross/Delgado Community College, New Orleans, LA, $150k: Bachelor degree completion in Culinology; 10 workers