News

Walnut Ridge in the Work Ready Community of Lawrence, AR is the winning target for 200 new jobs in the information technology sector. Provalus is driven by a unique purpose: transforming communities from the inside out, as noted on their corporate website. Their mission is to uplift rural towns across the U.S. by identifying and developing untapped talent to deliver technology, business, and support services. They hire and nurture the best and brightest minds, offering an exceptional experience to clients and end-users while stimulating local economies.

The Luminate Finals event empowers youth to see cutting-edge technology, hear from experts, and vote for their favorite startups at NextCorps Luminate, the world's largest optics, photonics, and imaging startup accelerator. As a regional WRC champion, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce invites local youth to dive into the future as the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. The event happens Thursday, September 26th at The Theatre at Innovation Square in Rochester and will be broadcast live online.

Workforce Development Month raises awareness about the importance of the workforce industry to a growing national economy. Originally celebrated in May, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) moved the designation to September in 2012. Highly skilled workforce development professionals provide critical links between businesses looking to hire jobseekers, and education, training and support resources. 

Richard Portelance from EdGate discusses the importance of data in career planning and the need for a lifelong learning repository to support modern with better integrations of profile details. Identifying the fractured nature of current career tools and the necessity for better visualization of career pathways, Richard highlights the role of educational standards and AI’s potential with machine learning to map career pathways efficiently, empowering both learners and advisors. Learn more with episode 53 of ACT's Ready for Work podcast.

The Greater New Orleans Infrastructure Partnership (GNOIP) – a collaborative effort led by Delgado Community College in partnership with Northshore Technical Community College, Nunez Community College, River Parishes Community College, and Greater New Orleans, Inc. – has been awarded $5.75 million by the Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community College initiative. 

Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at Real Time Talent, discusses Minnesota’s educational and workforce challenges on episode 51 of ACT's Ready for Work podcast. Despite high labor force participation, Minnesota faces significant racial disparities in education and a talent shortage. Olson highlights the misalignment between workforce needs and available skills, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships and data-driven solutions. Real Time Talent collaborates with various stakeholders to address these issues, focusing on aligning educational programs with labor market demands and promoting equity. Olson underscores the importance of employer involvement in creating effective workforce solutions and the role of Real Time Talent in facilitating these efforts.

Congratulations to the Work Ready Community of St. James Parrish in Louisiana for topping Site Selection Magazine's recent rankings of America's Best Counties for capital investments and jobs created. Other WRCs that made the list include Ouachita in Arkansas, St. Louis in Missouri, Saluda in South Carolina, and Haywood in Tennessee.

According to Site Selection Magazine, St. James Parish topped the list with projects such as FG LA LLC, a member of Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group, investing $9.4 billion in The Sunshine Project, an industrial complex for making chemicals and plastics. About 1,200 people will work at the facility when it’s operational.

Guam Community College will celebrate the 19 completers of its most recent Ship Repair Bootcamp. Sector components included Auto Body Paint (Paint Preservation) and Intro to Diesel Technology & Preventative Maintenance I. Additional training and certification in Heartsaver First Aid, CPR & AED, ACT WorkKeys NCRC, Work Ethics, and OSHA 10 were also successfully completed.

Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer today announced significant progress towards the construction of the first phase of the $319 million Edwards Vacuum dry pump manufacturing facility, located at the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP Mega-Site). Edwards Vacuum is a supporting NCRC employer.

The Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce is leading an initiative to make Baxter County a Work Ready Community, with support from Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and the Mountain Home Public School District. Businesses interested in implementing the WorkKeys system can register through the ACT WorkKeys Employer Registration Form. They can also contact Dani Pugsley at the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce or Becca Camp at Mountain Home Public Schools for more information.