News

WRC Goal Setting and Common Criteria Overview for prospective Work Ready Communities

Overview of stages for Work Ready Communities certification

The region's workforce ecosystem is only as strong as its leadership. Joining us on episode 25 of Ready for Work, author and consultant Dr. Anthony Edwards helps guide us from new book, Building a Winning Workforce: A Playbook for Employers, Government Entities; Colleges & Schools; Workforce Development Agencies, Economic Development Organizations ... & Chambers of Commerce; & Nonprofits. Later in the podcast, we'll listen to this leadership in action as Missouri's governor celebrates job creation and growth in Certified Work Ready Communities.

Residents of Barnwell County will have the opportunity to participate in a five-week training program aimed at preparing trainees as potential employees for manufacturing jobs in the region. A full scholarship will be awarded to all participants of the program. To qualify for the program, students must have a high school diploma or equivalency and Bronze WorkKeys job readiness status.

Workforce development is most successful when local grassroots initiatives are supported at the state level as well. Watch the video to hear ACT Director of State Services, Rose Babington, share how these efforts can go hand-in-hand.

Cold Springs High School has been named Cullman County's School of Excellence for the 2019-2020 school year. Out of all the of high schools in the county, Cold Springs High School had the highest senior ACT scores, the highest student attendance rate, was tied for the highest graduation rate, had the second highest percentage of students passing the ACT WorkKeys test and the faculty and staff had the second highest attendance rate.

USD 252 in Southern Lyon County, Kansas outperformed state averages. Local leaders set the bar even higher with improved connections to post-secondary and workforce opportunities.

Eighteen boot camp students studying ship repair graduated from the Guam Community College pre-apprenticeship program Friday. As part of the boot camp, graduates were certified in CPR/basic life support, general safety and health hazards for entry-level workers, as well as WorkKeys, a national career readiness certificate. GCC also announced its second boot camp on truck driving will complete in seven weeks.

Teachers and administrators in the Columbus, Lowndes County, and the Starkville-Oktibbeha school districts shared their passion for student success through WorkKeys with The Dispatch newspaper.

Last Friday, Governor Mike Parson, AIM President and CEO Ray McCarty, joined several other state and local officials in Lebanon, Missouri, to celebrate Laclede County becoming a Certified Work Ready Community.  This designation means Laclede County joins other Work Ready Communities in being able to advertise they have a workforce ready to be employed by existing or new employers in the County. The designation is available when a certain number of potential employees have taken a test and earned a National Career Readiness Certificate and a certain number of employers have agreed to participate in the program. The number required depends on the population of the county.