News

Excerpt: A new program that will kick off this summer wants to help people find jobs that better match their skills and interests, and also help McLean County better compete for new business opportunities. The McLean County Certified Work Ready Community initiative is part of a national effort to encourage those in the workforce to get ACT's NCRC-

Life is full of choices. Each choice we make — or fail to make — affects our own lives and the lives of others. For those with imaginative minds, choices may take the form of what ifs. Here are a few that drive me and many of my colleagues at ACT.....

A recent article by Gov. Jay Nixon featured on CNBC discussed the many advantages that Missouri offers to prospective and current businesses looking to grow. The article mentions Missouris competitive economic climate, spotless AAA credit rating, and world-class workforce as compelling factors as to why the Show-Me State is ready to compete...

Excerpt: Education is quite simply the best economic development tool there is. That's why we expanded access to preschool, increased funding for K-12 education and held down college tuition. We launched groundbreaking, nationally-recognized Innovation Campuses, which partner with businesses to help students attain more career-ready skills—in less

In support of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations goal that all students graduate ready for college and career, the Department has announced ACT WorkKeys® as an additional academic measure that districts and charter schools can use to gauge students proficiency as they graduate from high school.

South Carolina is replacing its high school exit exam with tests considered more useful to students' future success, with scores that could go on work resumes or college admissions applications. A new law signed by Gov. Nikki Haley deletes South Carolina's 3-decade-old requirement that high school students pass an exit exam...

Local magazine Inside Columbia's CEO recently highlighted the Missouri Department of Economic Developments new leader, director Mike Downing. Downing, who was sworn in as Department director in February. The article also highlights several economic development efforts that mean big business for Missouri, including Certified Work Ready Communities.

Cathy Wenning, Chair of the Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation and Government and Community Relations Manager for DUKE Energy opened the program No Foolin Were Going for the Gold at the April 1st Rotary meeting. Click on the header to learn more......

IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT today will welcome seven new members and nine continuing members to its National Workforce Solutions Advisory Board, which guides its national ACT Work Ready Communities initiative. The new board members will be announced today at a meeting in Atlanta.

McCormick County has become the second county in South Carolina to meet all state and national requirements to earn the Certified Work Ready Community designation through national testing organization ACT and S.C. Work Ready Communities initiative. McCormick also is only the sixth county in the United States to receive the designation.